Fighting to keep rural GP denied residency

A TASMANIAN community is rallying behind a valued rural GP who has been told to pack up his family and return to Fiji after his application for permanent Australian residency was refused.

Daryl O’Connor, who has been working at the Smithton Medical Centre for five years on a work visa, applied for a 189 skilled independent visa in January this year.

He was told on November 30 his application had been denied and he his wife and two teenage sons would need to leave Australia by January 4.

“We had high hopes the application would be successful but are now devastated. My wife works locally, our sons represent the district in sport and we are very engaged in our new community,” Dr O’Connor said.

“Few Australian doctors want to come to small communities, but we did and have set down roots here.”

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks about the need to get skilled migrants into regional areas.

Dr O’Connor is one of only a handful of doctors in the town and is on call to provide emergency services at the local hospital. He also treats the elderly at the aged care home.

“My departure would leave a big gap in the health services provided,” he said.

The popular GP was told he did not have enough points after filling out his online expression of interest in gaining permanent residency.

“I have worked and studied in rural Australia and have become a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. But I was told I fell short of the minimum points threshold,” he said.

Dr O’Connor can appeal the decision but the process can take 12 to 18 months. He cannot lodge another application until he has left Australia. Social media is abuzz with local outrage at the decision involving a “beautiful family and the most brilliant doctor Smithton has seen for a long time”.

The Smithton community was relieved in 2014 when it was announced Dr O’Connor and other doctors from various parts of Australia and the world were coming to Circular Head to bolster GP numbers.

Mayor Daryl Quilliam said he hoped the new recruits would settle in with their families and stay.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said he was working to find a solution.

“We are trying to find a way for him to continue practising and have been in contact with the immigration minister’s office about how we might sort things out,” Senator Colbeck said.

While it is a Federal Government ruling, Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest says she will rally on Dr O’Connor’s behalf. She has met with medical and pharmacy professionals in Smithton and is working with Tasmanian federal MPs and senators to see if they can influence the case.

We had high hopes the application would be successful but are now devastated

— DARYL O’CONNOR

“I urge all concerned residents to contact local federal members to alert them to your genuine concerns and the need for this to be addressed promptly,” Ms Forrest said on social media.

“I have also alerted Tas- manian Health Minister Michael Ferguson and asked for support in raising this issue with the Federal Government.”

Mr Ferguson said Dr O’Connor’s service to the Circular Head community was valued by the State Government. “This has been communicated to Senator Colbeck’s office who are currently assisting Dr O’Connor with this matter, as immigration issues are a commonwealth responsibility,” he said.