Ms Fredericks said Mrs Murugappan had “so much thanks” for Australians who called the minister’s office to campaign for the family to remain in the country.

The family’s immigration lawyer Carina Ford said her clients were relieved their three bridging visas were extended by a year.

“This is a step in the right direction,” Ms Ford wrote on Twitter.

The next step the minister needed to take was to allow the family to return to their home in Biloela,she said.

Lawyers for the family have been challenging a ministerial decision on June 22 preventing the three from re-applying for bridging visas. They argued the family were denied procedural fairness,which the government rejects.

Judge Heather Riley is expected to hand down a decision in the Federal Circuit and Family Court next month.

The latest legal bid comes after the High Courtlast month refused to hear an appeal on behalf of the Murugappan family’s youngest daughter,four-year-old Tharnicaa,who was born in Australia along with her older sister.

Nades and Priya fled Sri Lanka separately,coming by boat to Australia in 2012 and 2013,respectively.

They met and married in Australia and had their two daughters after settling in Biloela,a 6½ hour drive north of Brisbane,with a population of fewer than 6000.

In March 2018,they were taken from Biloela and sent to detention in Melbourne before being moved to Christmas Island.

In June,the family were released into community detention in Perth while Tharnicaa was treated in hospital for sepsis.

Ms Fredericks said the family were self-sufficient in Biloela,where they have supporters waiting for them. She said the hospital in the town was sufficient to cater for Tharnicaa’s needs,but Brisbane would be the next best option if not.

Mr Hawke declined to comment on individual circumstances.

With Zach Hope

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