"Our clients are relieved that three family members have had their bridging visas extended by a year today - this is a step in the right direction," Carina Ford said on Twitter.
"To make it clear, the Minister has chosen not to use his public interest power to release the youngest child from community detention, meaning the family cannot return to Bilo and will remain in Perth."
To make it clear the Minister has chosen not use his public interest power to release the youngest child from community detention meaning the family can not return to Bilo & will remain in Perth
The decision comes a week after the family were granted a reprieve in their fight to remain in Australia after a three-month bridging visa was granted, which had allowed them to stay in the country until just before Christmas.
Minister Hawke's office said it would not be providing a statement.
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The family has been living in Perth after being released from years of detention - the last stint on Christmas Island - after Tharnicaa was medically evacuated from the island earlier this year with a blood infection that left her gravely ill.
The family’s supporters say they are “surprised” by Minister Hawke's decision to now grant 12-month visas to three of the four family members, while continuing to withhold a bridging visa for Tharnicaa.
“Australian law gives Minister Hawke the power to bring this sorry saga to a close with the stroke of a pen, by issuing the same visa to four-year-old Tharni that he has granted to her mum, dad and sister,” Biloela resident and family friend, Angela Fredericks, said in a statement.
"Just like her sister Kopika, Tharnicaa was born in Queensland, and that's where she belongs."
Labor's home affairs spokesperson, Kristina Keneally, described the decision as "unfair".
"With the stroke of a pen, Alex Hawke could've simply let the Biloela family go home to Bilo. He has the power!" she wrote on Twitter.
"12-month bridging visas is good news, but using Tharni to keep them in Perth - 4,500 kilometres from Bilo - is unfair."
With the stroke of a pen @AlexHawkeMP could’ve simply let the Biloela Family go #hometobilo. He has the power!
12-month bridging visas is good news, but using Tharni to keep them in Perth – 4,500 kms from Bilo – is unfair
Bilo loves them and wants them home https://t.co/qQbblizBwG
The Murugappans were living in Biloela before Priya and Nades' bridging visas expired in 2018, after which the family was taken into detention during a night raid.
Nades and Priya have said they face persecution if deported to Sri Lanka. They fled their homeland after the country's civil war and came separately by boat to Australia.
The government has repeatedly said the family is not eligible to permanently settle in Australia.
With AAP.
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2021-09-23 05:30:57Z
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