All over the world, frontlilne workers' sacrifies are being recognised to be 'unique, exceptional, and in the public interest' and are being rewarded accordingly. For example, "Covid: France rewards frontline immigrant workers with citizenship", and Canada's "Health-care workers permanent residence pathway" are a few of headlines supporting this. But Australia continues to operate disability-dicriminating immigration policy despite international outcries that have seen countries such as Canada repealed such laws. Doctors have faced deportation (see headlines "Australia to Deport German Doctor with Disabled Son" and "Outcry after Sydney doctor faced with deportation over autistic child") but for LAST MINUTE ministerial intervention. But a 2010 report found that restrictive regulation does not allow for ministerial discretion during the EARLIER STAGES of their permanent residency application. The result was that they had to endure the expensive, prolonged and sould-crushing process of accessing Ministerial intervention. Even at that, the Minister only intervenes in a relatively small number of cases which, according to the department of Home Affairs, "present unique and exceptional circumstances, and where he considers it is in the public interest to do so.”

Given international recognition of the sacrifices of frontline workers as 'unique, exceptional and in the public interest' we are calling upon the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to accord Australian  frontline workers who have been putting their lives on the line the same recognition, and grant those of them  who currently face deportation over their children's disability Ministerial discretion EARLY in their permanent residency appllications without the need for them to undertake appeals to AAT or undergo other lengthy, emotionally-draining process of accessing the Minister's consideration.

Please support this petition. The borders are opening, so we need frontline workers to remain and work, not with distractions, but with the assurance that their disabled children would be supported rather than deported should they pay the ultimate sacrifice in their frontline work.