My parents, Tuyen Pham and Vinh Le, moved to Adelaide in 2008, filled with hopes and dreams of a new life in a vibrant, welcoming community. Over the past 17 years, Adelaide has become more than just a residence for them—their home. They have built relationships, contributed to the local Vietnamese Catholic Community,  and are cherished by family and friends, including their beloved grandchildren, who are Australian citizens.

However, a tragic car accident a decade ago took a toll on their health, preventing them from fulfilling the stringent criteria needed to apply for permanent residency under the business visa category. Despite their best efforts to meet every other requirement, this unforeseen circumstance left them in legal limbo. Their stable, fulfilling life in Australia is threatened, as they have now been issued a final notice to leave the country by 1 September 2026.

We are calling for compassion and justice to help my parents remain in the community they have grown to love and cherish. Their absence would not only break familial bonds but would also strip them of the life they have painstakingly built over nearly two decades. They have sacrificed everything to bring me here so that I can fulfill my dream of working as an engineer contributing to society, specifically the mining industry in Australia, and starting my own family in a country that values personal freedoms, equality, diversity and a fair go.

It is essential to consider their longstanding commitment to Australia and their inability to meet residency requirements through no fault of their own. Their presence enriches the lives of those around them, especially their grandchildren who dearly need their love and guidance.

We urge Minister Burke and Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite to re-evaluate this unique case and offer my parents the chance to stay in Australia on humanitarian grounds or through any suitable visa provision which can be either permanent visas or alternatively Substituted Visitor Visas allowing them to apply for the onshore Class DG contributory aged parent visas. This act of kindness will maintain family unity and underscore the compassionate values that Australia stands for.

Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt, where I reside, together with a member of the Legislative Council from the State Parliament also wrote to the Minister to support my parents. 

If deported, my parents can apply to return, but that will take between 15 and 33 years, depending on the type of parent visa they apply for. They are currently both over 65 years old, and that is too late to start everything over again in Vietnam.

Please sign this petition to support my parents' opportunity to continue their journey in Australia and to uphold the spirit of inclusivity and community care that defines this great nation. Together, we can make a difference in their lives and secure the blessings of family unity.