On a Friday night in June, my beautiful friend Priya called me from the harsh Melbourne detention centre where she and her family have been held since Border Force snatched them from our little Queensland town in March.
Priya had just been handed a notice telling her that within days, she and her husband Nades would be forced from Australia to danger, along with the Queensland-born daughters, Kopika and Tharunicaa.
As Priya’s legal team worked around the clock, we launched a petition calling on Qantas and 11 other airlines to fly Priya, Nades and the girls home to Biloela – not to danger. Since then, over 15,000 people have signed.
Now, Qantas shareholders are voting on whether their company should be involved in forcing people like Priya, Nades, Kopika and Tharunicaa from Australia to danger.
On 26 October, I’m travelling from Biloela to attend the Qantas Annual General Meeting in Brisbane. Please help me bring Priya and Nades’ story to Qantas shareholders, by joining me in outside the AGM: www.facebook.com/events/1932538706811180
Right now, a temporary injunction is the only thing stopping Border Force from loading Priya and three-year-old Kopika onto a plane - but only while the Federal Court considers Priya’s appeal.
The court could hand down a decision any day now. I am hoping with all of my heart for a positive result, but I know that Australia’s confusing immigration laws offer little protection to people like Priya and Nades.
I also know that even if Priya is successful in court, husband Nades and one year old daughter Tharunicaa could still be forced from Australia to danger.
It sounds unbelievable. But that’s exactly what happened to Sydney Mum Karthika in July, when Border Force defied the UN and forced her husband Thileepan from Australian to danger, permanently separating him from his wife and baby daughter.
Just like Qantas, Priya’s little girls Kopika and Tharunicaa are Queensland born and bred. The only place they should fly is home to Biloela, QLD.
On 26 October, I hope you can help me share Priya’s story and show Qantas the true “Spirit of Australia”, by joining me in Brisbane for this peaceful event: www.facebook.com/events/1932538706811180
Thank you for everything,
Angela