The Beagle editor
We (Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla) are writing to express our deep concern at our Government’s ongoing detention of the Biloela family. We are most concerned at the plight of Priya, Nades and their two daughters Tharnicaa and Kopika
Nades & Priya with daughters Kopika & Tharnicaa - photo taken previously in Biloela.
As a regional community, we understand the close ties that have been forged between the Biloela community and this much loved family. Danger to lives The medical evacuation of 3 year old Tharnicaa from Christmas island with a blood infection and now a diagnosis of pneumonia, highlights the life-threatening dangers of immigration detention.
Immigration detention is unsafe and causes harm and trauma. It is not a place for a family. It is clearly not safe for the children to remain in detention and the whole family needs to be released and allowed to return to their community in Biloela.
No child is to be held in detention.
The family was ripped from their beds – and their home in Biloela - and have now been held for 1,194 days in detention.
This is in breach of the Government’s policy that no child is to be held in immigration detention.
It is not safe for Tamil families to go home to Sri Lanka.
They are a Tamil family and Sri Lanka remains unsafe for people to return.
Last week following a UK Court ruling, DFAT was urged to retract an inaccurate report saying Sri Lankans face low torture risk. Minister Andrews has the power to end this terrible situation. Her Department has previously recommended this.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews MP has the power to release the family into community, under S195A of the Migration Act, on a substantive visa, and to allow the family to stay in Australia.
The Minister’s Immigration Department had already sent a submission on 24 May 2019 to her predecessor, Peter Dutton, recommending that the Minister “agree to consider exercising S195A to grant… [the] family a substantive visa to remain in Australia.
Our support from Eurobodalla
We offer our thoughts to the Biloela community who have loved and valued the family’s work, contributions and presence – and want to see the family returned to safety.
We send our support to Priya and Nades, Kopika and their seriously ill daughter Tharnicaa at this very difficult time.
Tharnicaa will turn four on Saturday, and while now responding to life-saving antibiotic treatment in Perth Children’s Hospital, and with her mother - she is very distressed after being separated from her father and sister - afraid that this separation is permanent.
The delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment of a young child on Christmas Island for 10 days - and while running a 40 degrees temperature - is unacceptable by any standard. It underlines the peril and punitive nature of indefinite and offshore detention.
According to Australian Sepsis Network every hour of delayed treatment increases the risk of death by close to 8% The Government has spent $6 million on putting the family in detention for the past 39 months, despite widespread support from the community in Biloela, and the support of politicians, media personalities, a Former High Court Chief Justice, and everyday Australians calling for their return to Biloela. Voice YOUR support for the family’s return back to the safety of Biloela and for the granting of permanent protection visas. Please write / call Minister Karen Andrews MP on +61(02) 6277 7860 karen.andrews.mp@aph.gov.au Sample email Dear Minister Andrews, I am writing to you to request that you, on behalf of the Australian government, do the humane and sensible thing and release Tharnicca Murugappan and her family to return to Biloela. This family has been detained for over 1,000 days, at a huge and unnecessary cost. This is the second medical emergency in just a few months. The local Biloela community is ready to welcome her and her family home and this support is evident right across Australia. This is quite simply the compassionate and right thing to do, please act before this family suffers further harm. I look forward to hearing of your compassionate decision soon. Kind regards, If the Minister Andrew’s message bank is still being turned off when you ring, phone PM Morrison’s office: 02 6277 7700 https://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm Please also pass on your concerns to your local MP asking them to deliver a message to Minister Karen Andrews. Fiona Phillips MP – member for Gilmore Phone: (02) 4423 1782 Email: fiona.phillips.mp@aph.gov.au https://www.fionaphillips.com.au/contact/ Kristy Mcbain MP – member for Eden-Monaro Telephone: (02) 6284 2442 Email: Kristy.McBain.MP@aph.gov.au https://www.kristymcbain.com.au/contact/ We thank our local Eurobodalla community for your actions and support for young Tharunicaa. And for all your efforts to see her returned with her family to Biolela. signed: Allina Hughes Cath Bowdler Sharon MacDonald Sherryn Bellis Nina Shantifan Pearl Cavander Cole Dale Cole Allan Rees Robyne Stacey Robin Scott-Charlton Marn and Peter Cole Barb Lewis Wendy Rodgers Mark Ward Mirabel Fitzgerald Magella Blinksell & Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla raceurobodalla@gmail.com fb/RACEurobodalla
