“This line about ‘we can’t comment because it’s before the court’ is just wrong,” Dendle said.
“We have heard it over and over and over again in the last four years. The truth is that it actually can be looked at because the courts decided Tharnicaa did not get procedural fairness.
Bronwyn Dendle and Angela Fredericks,who are friends of the Murugappans,say their plight is an issue that is changing votes in the seat of Flynn.Credit:Staff photographer
“It’s not sitting before the courts. It’s sitting on Minister Hawke’s desk right now. It’s been sitting there forever. He only has to sign the papers and they can come home. It’s not tricky,it’s not tricky at all,but that’s the spin they give their ministers.”
The campaign for the family is gaining support from “teal” independent candidates in city electorates who are calling for the family to be given refugee status.
Those backing the call include Allegra Spender in Wentworth,Zoe Daniel in Goldstein,Monique Ryan in Kooyong and Kylea Tink in North Sydney.
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The Murugappan family also have support from Liberals including Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney,Katie Allen in Higgins,Jason Falinski in Mackellar and Bridget Archer in Bass. Queensland independent Bob Katter spoke in support of the family last week.
Fredericks said the issue had the potential to change votes in Flynn,an electorate where Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd (who supported bringing the family home) is retiring and Nationals candidate Colin Boyce is trying to hold the seat against Labor challenger Matt Burnett.
“A lot of the people I’ve talked to have told me personally that they are changing their vote purely because of this issue,” she said.
“That includes people who are changing their vote from a long line of conservative families.”
Dendle and Fredericks are social workers in Biloela and their children know the Murugappan children. They are in contact with the family several times a week on FaceTime and by phone.
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While Burnett has told voters in Flynn that he wants the family to return to Biloela,Boyce said it was up to the courts.
“I feel for this family,obviously,everybody does,but we have laws in Australia,we have a legal system,I can’t influence that,” Boyce said.
“I’m prepared to take the advice from the court system. It has dragged on and on and on for many years and they have been used as political footballs,which I think is extremely unfortunate for them.”
Joyce said in August 2019,before he returned to the Nationals leadership and the position of Deputy Prime Minister,thathe believed the government should listen to the people of Biloela and let the family go home,a position he stated more forcefully in April 2021,shortly before he regained the leadership.