Tamil family – except youngest – granted 12-month Australia visas
Al Jazeera
The family, who lived in Queensland, are at the centre of a growing campaign for them to be allowed to return home.
Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has granted 12-month bridging visas to three members of the Sri Lankan Tamil family at the heart of a growing campaign urging the government to allow them to stay permanently in Australia.
The visas apply to parents Nadesalingam and Priya Murugappan, and their eldest daughter Kopika, according to Home to Bilo, a group of friends campaigning for the family’s release.
The family has been in community detention in the western city of Perth since their youngest child, Tharunicaa, was airlifted to the city after suffering a medical emergency at the remote Christmas Island detention centre where they had been held for nearly two years.
