An Irish couple who have been living in Australia for 10 years have been granted residency after they faced the reality of being deported because of their son’s illness.
Anthony and Christine Hyde, from Dublin, migrated in 2009 and are living in the town of Seymour, Victoria, along with their son Darragh, three, who was born in Australia.
The family had their application for permanent residency rejected in 2015 after their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and his treatment was assessed as too burdensome on the taxpayer.
The couple appealed the decision and their case was heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal in May. The tribunal found that their case met the criteria for a ministerial intervention.
Anthony and Christine Hyde moved from Dublin in 2009 and are living in a small town of Seymour, Victoria, with their son
They set up a Change.org petition, which has more than 120,000 signatures, in a bid to stay in the country they consider home.
In an update to the petition on Friday, Ms Hyde shared the wonderful news.
‘Thank you to everyone who supported us,’ she wrote.
‘Late yesterday evening we received the good news that we were granted residency.’
‘We are so excited, a huge weight has been lifted and we can continue our lives. We will are completely grateful to everyone!’
The couple appealed the decision over their application and their case was heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal in May.
They faced being deported because their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and treatment could cost taxpayer money
The tribunal found that their case met the criteria for a ministerial intervention.
Mr Hyde is a part-time bus driver while Ms Hyde is an assistant principal at the local primary school.
They petition previously said: ‘Please sign and help us ask the Minister to let our son stay in Australia’.
It emerged in May that more than 30 criminals ranging from a wife murderer and sex offenders to armed robbers and drug traffickers have been allowed to stay in Australia, despite having their visas cancelled.
Meanwhile more than 30 criminals ranging from a wife murderer and sex offenders to armed robbers and drug traffickers have been allowed to stay in Australia, despite having their visas cancelled
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) overturned 34 decisions made by delegates for the Home Affairs and Immigration ministers involving serious offenders.
Among those given the green light, are Kenyan-born killer Paul Jason Margach, who was jailed after he repeatedly stabbed his wife Tina in front of one of their young children at their Melbourne home in 2004.
Convicted African-born sex offender Malipo Muyobe also had his visa cancellation overruled, as did an unnamed Chinese triad organised crime gang member jailed for 13 years for trafficking a commercial quality of ecstasy and possession of ice.
Mauritian stalker Jean Marie Amoorthum, who was convicted of stalking and threatening a young female with a knife, also had his cancellation overturned.
Statistics from AAT’s latest annual report show that the tribunal only affirmed 35 per cent, or 4,432, of the migration visa decisions made by ministerial delegates in 2017-18.
The latest cases are on top of 164 criminals saved from deportation by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal between 2010 and 2018.
Out of the previous cases, eight were convicted of murder, 23 were found guilty of armed robbery, 33 were drug dealers, 17 were rapists and eight were convicted of murder.
Over the last 10 months, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (pictured) has overturned 34 decisions made by delegates for the Home Affairs and Immigration ministers involving serious offenders