Today, in my capacity as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, following careful consideration of all relevant matters and options before me, I exercised my power under section 195A of the Migration Act 1958 to intervene in the case of the Nadesalingam family.
My intervention provides the family with visas allowing them to remain permanently in Australia.
This Government made a commitment before the election that, if elected, we would allow the family to return to Biloela and resolve the family's immigration status. Today, the Government has delivered on that promise.
This decision follows careful consideration of the Nadesalingam family's complex and specific circumstances.
I extend my best wishes to the Nadesalingam family.
During the past two months, the Government has demonstrated we will continue to intercept and return any unauthorised vessels seeking to reach Australia.
For anyone who attempts to migrate via an unauthorised boat to Australia - you will be caught, returned or sent to a regional processing country.
I do not want people to die in a boat on a journey when there is zero chance of settling in Australia.
This has not changed since the last Government. We are not considering changing this policy.
This Government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and stopping people smuggling.
We will continue to intercept any unauthorised vessel seeking to reach Australia, and safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin or take them to a regional processing country.
