Today brings another court hearing for the Tamil asylum seeker family currently being held on Christmas Island.
Priya, Nadesalingam and their two Australian-born daughters have been held on Christmas Island since August, while they fight their deportation from Australia.The couple came to Australia separately by boat in 2012 and 2013 following Sri Lanka's civil war before having Kopika, four, and Tharunicaa, two.
The family won't be present and Ms Ford said it will be a"largely procedural" affair"to determine further steps to be taken".The case rests on the youngest child, Tharunicaa, and her right to apply for a protection visa. The other family members have had their claims rejected.Ms Ford said the hearing is an important reminder to Australia that the"isolated" family are the only individuals being held in Christmas Island's detention facilities.
"They're not a security threat. They are a family with two young children ... And even if they needed to be in detention, there is absolutely no reason they need to be on Christmas Island."But, she said, one positive was Kopika has now been able to"gain access to kindergarten outside of the detention, on the island".SBS News contacted the Department of Home Affairs about why the family is being held on Christmas Island.
He said Melbourne detention was unsuitable as"I thought that protest activity caused a particular sort of risk to safety and security".Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has repeatedly said the family will not remain in Australia.and said the case is costing taxpayers"literally millions of dollars".
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