Extract from ABC News
Supporters of a Sri Lankan family in immigration detention on Christmas Island have organised a mass mail-out of Christmas cards.
Key points:
- A Sri Lankan family who lived in Biloela are about to spend their third Christmas in immigration detention
- They have been detained on Christmas Island since 2019
- The family have thanked supporters and say they hope to be "back home in Biloela soon"
"It just really brings them some joy at this really hard time," said family friend Angela Fredericks from the central Queensland town of Biloela.
"I know lots of people are sending cards from here.
"I've had so many messages from people saying it's in the post, it's on the way."
Nadesalingam Murugappan, known as Nades, Kokilapathmapriya Nadesalingam, known as Priya, five-year-old Kopika and three-year-old Tharunicaa have been in immigration detention since March 2018.
They were moved from Melbourne to the Christmas Island detention centre in August last year after a failed attempt by the Federal Government to deport them to Sri Lanka.
Their supporters in Biloela — where the Sri Lankan asylum seekers and their two Australian-born children lived for several years — are making an effort to help them through their third Christmas in detention.
"It's just important to let them know that they're not alone and they won't ever be forgotten," Biloela supporter Marie Austin said.
"I think it says a lot about Biloela and people more generally — friendships are important and the backbone of any society."
'They haven't committed any crimes'
Immigration lawyer Carina Ford says she is amazed by the extent of public support.
"It has probably escalated as a result of their detention," Ms Ford said.
"I mean, there are no other families in detention [in Australia].
"They haven't committed any crimes. Yes, they arrived by boat, but that also isn't a crime in itself."
A spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs told 7.30 the Federal Government had a clear policy of not allowing anyone who attempted "maritime travel" to settle in Australia.
"The family's claims to engage Australia's protection obligations have been comprehensively assessed on a number of occasions by the Department of Home Affairs, various merits review bodies and appealed through multiple courts including the Federal Court to the High Court," the spokesman said.
Although Nades and Priya were not granted refugee status, they won a reprieve against being deported last year after the Federal Court ruled immigration authorities had not followed procedural fairness in assessing the case of their youngest child.
A related appeal case decision by the full bench of the Federal Court is expected to be handed down next year.
Ms Ford said that would not necessarily be the end of the matter, with an appeal to the High Court always a possibility.
"It's by no means at an end … subject, of course, to what the clients want to do," she said.
'No safe future in Sri Lanka'
Ms Fredericks said the family told her they want to fight on.
"Priya is determined she'll come back here to Biloela. They've got no safe future in Sri Lanka," Ms Fredericks said.
Supporters, however, are worried that more than 1,000 days in detention is taking a toll on the family.
"It's psychologically damaging," said close friend Vashini Riswan, a Sri Lankan refugee who talks to the family every day from her home in Brisbane.
"I feel Kopika and Tharunicaa are traumatised, as is Nades — he's just bored out there, he doesn't have any friends, he doesn't have anything to do — and Priya has a lot of medical conditions, so it is really hard," she said.
"Coming into school holidays is a really tough time for the family, particularly with Kopika not getting to go to school," Ms Fredericks said.
"She gets incredibly angry and frustrated at just being locked up as they try to placate her and keep her entertained."
'Thank you for supporting us'
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has called on the Australian Government to release the family from detention.
The Department of Home Affairs says the family has access to health and welfare services, including age-appropriate education for the children and recreational activities.
Ms Riswan said the family greatly appreciated the Christmas messages, and passed on a message from Priya.
"She said, 'Thank you for supporting us, thank you for the love, and keep supporting us and I hope I'll be back home to Biloela soon.'"
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