GOVT ‘ LIKELY’ TO GRANT REPRIEVE
Hopes rise for mum and her autistic son
IMMIGRATION Minister Peter Dutton says he is likely to rule in favour of a Townsville nurse and her autistic son remaining in Australia but has defended his department’s ruling against them staying.
Maria Sevilla has been given a bridging visa while the Immigration Department prepares her case for Mr Dutton to make a final ruling on whether she and son Tyrone, 10, can stay in the country.
The process is likely to take a couple of weeks and could see Ms Sevilla offered a work visa or permanent residency.
Ms Sevilla yesterday said she felt “overwhelmed” by the public’s support as she delivered a petition protesting their deportation, with more than 120,000 signatures, to the Brisbane office of Mr Dutton.
Her application for a skilled work visa was last year rejected by the department, and backed by the Migration Review Tribunal, because of the “significant cost to the Australian community” of Tyrone’s medical needs.
Visas can be rejected when the person has health costs likely to exceed $ 40,000 and could reduce places in care for Australian citizens.
Mr Dutton said he was sympathetic to Ms Sevilla’s case.
“On the facts that I have seen so far, I think that we should provide support to this family, but no doubt there will be questions that need to be asked by the department,” he said. “Particularly for kids who have ave particular
On the facts that I have seen so far, I think we should provide support to this family
PETER DUTTON
medical conditions, the law also requires them to have a look at whether or not an Australian child with autism would miss out on a spot within an educational program, for example, if we allowed more kids with autism into those programs … from other countries.”
Ms Sevilla said she hoped they were granted visas soon so they could move on.
“I’m just a regular individual who wants to look after your child, buy your own house and then you can settle in an area,” she said. “If I don’t have that document in my hand, it doesn’t mean much.”
Queensland Nurses’ Union secretary Beth Mohle said she was hopeful of a good outcome.
“I think this case really highlights we need to be challenging our prejudices and preconceptions about people with a disability,” she said.
But Mr Dutton accused the union of “seeking to politicise this story” and said Ms Sevilla’s case was one of thousands his depar department had to consider.