Stranded family heads home
A TASMANIAN family stranded in the Philippines for months by coronavirusrelated border closures are finally on their way home, state parliament has heard.
Brett Riseley travelled to the Philippines on March 11 with his wife Imelda and their three-year-old son Tasman to visit Imelda’s family.
They had booked flights back to Tasmania in early June and early July, but both were cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
They had planned to stay for a few weeks but due to COVID-19 restrictions they remained stuck in Aparri, almost 600km from Manila.
Independent member for Clark Madeleine Ogilvie has told parliament she had just received a text message from the family which said: “We are in the air on our way home, you beauty, thank you.”
Ms Ogilvie raised the family’s case in parliament earlier this week, urging the state government to do more to help them.
“It has been a long and stressful time for Mr and Mrs Riseley and their young son, who have been stuck in the Philippines trying to get home since April,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“I have been in regular contact with the Riseley family and I know the toll it has taken on them,” she said.
“I was so pleased when I heard from them to say they were on a flight on the way home.
“This has been a massive effort and the Premier’s team has been very helpful. I look forward to catching up with the Riseley family when they return to Tasmania and have been through their isolation period.’’
Premier Peter Gutwein welcomed the news.
“I must say that I am so incredibly pleased that they are on a flight and will be arriving at 11am this morning,” he told parliament.
Mr Gutwein thanked Ms Ogilvie for her work on behalf of the family and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their efforts to bring them home.