A Perth family facing deportation because their son’s disability was deemed a burden on taxpayers have been told they can stay in the country.
The Aneesh family,from Carlisle,were facing the prospect of heading back to India next week after living in Perth for seven years because their 10-year-old son Aaryan failed the visa health test.
Aaryan has an intellectual disability and Down syndrome.
Krishna Aneesh,who is a cybersecurity expert,and her husband Aneesh Kollikkara,who works in telecommunications,last week told9 News Perth they were denied permanent residency in Australia due to potential costs for their son’s disability.
“They haven’t even considered what we are contributing to the society,how we are integrated within the society,we are also tax-paying,” she said.
“We really want[Immigration Minister Andrew Giles] to give us a chance to call Australia our home ... I really plead for him to intervene in our case.”
Aaryan’s parents said their son doesn’t rely on any disability support services,but according to the immigration department,the 10-year-old’s cost to the Australian community is “too significant”.
They calculated a total taxpayer cost of $664,000 in expenses over a decade.
On Wednesday morning,following a three-year visa fight,the family said it had received official word that Giles had intervened and granted the family permanent residency.