My amazing partner, Chris, has lived in Australia for 12 years. He is the best father to our two little boys, both who are Australian citizens. Last year, Chris followed me to Spain to take care of our children while I worked there for a few weeks, but was denied entry back to Australia. As a permanent resident for more than 5 years, Chris was required to apply for a Resident Return Visa in order to return to Australia. We left before he got the visa because we had no idea that there was any possibility of it not being approved. Now, Chris is forced to live apart from us and my boys don’t understand why their father isn’t with them.

 

After waiting 8 months for the Return Resident Visa to come through, Chris’s application was denied under the 501 Migrant Act. Since he wasn’t in Australia when the decision was made, he doesn’t have the right to appeal the decision. We have spent $20,000 in legal fees only to be told that the Appeals Tribunal will NOT review the decision. This means, Chris will NEVER be able to return to Australia to visit or live with and care for his two little boys.

Between 2014-2018, Chris had mental health troubles and he found himself making terrible decisions but Chris has turned his life around, he has been completely sober from alcohol after attending an in-patient rehabilitation, he has been sober for 4 years +, he is an active AA participant, he has regular sessions with both a psychiatrist and psychologist and now takes medication for ADHD and Depression. 

Chris has proved to be a role model for his children, demonstrating to them how one can turn their life around. He is a hands-on father who is very active in his children’s daily life. He has always been employed, received promotions and is a well-loved community member. I wish the Home Affairs Department would consider the emotional impact of separating my children from their loving father.

Chris left Australia on a holiday, with a good job waiting for him on his return, his clothes still hang in the wardrobe, his car is still parked in the driveway of his family home… yet he will never be allowed to return unless he is granted Ministerial Intervention. Chris’ own mental health is declining rapidly. The entire family is devastated and without hope of ever being together in Australia, again.

The ramifications of this decision have had huge financial implications on the family as a whole, it restricts employment for both Chris and me, and housing options for the boys. Our four-year old often cries himself to sleep asking for his daddy.

We strongly believe that the 501 Migrant Act is destroying the lives of Australians rather than protecting them as it claims to be doing. Permanently excluding someone from a country where their children reside is inhumane and unnecessarily harsh, especially when the person in question has a proven record of rehabilitation and support to ensure reoffending is unlikely. Chris also has no option to have a review of the decision, which strips him and his children of a basic legal right to have the decision looked at by someone other than the one person whose opinion has now devastated their lives.

We plead to The Hon Andrew Giles to overturn the decision - please don't separate Australian children from their loving father and disadvantage them financially for the foreseeable future. We ask the Minister to allow an appeal or give us a reasonable timeframe to prove Chris is not at risk of reoffending. 

Please sign and share this petition to show your support for our family.