Last week, I travelled the 1,800km from Biloela to support Priya and her family as the Federal Circuit Court heard her plea to remain in Australia. Melbourne people put on a beautiful display of support outside the court, spelling out “Welcome to Biloela” in big yellow letters, waving dozens of cardboard cockatoos and singing “I am, you are, we are Australian”. I told them that Biloela’s message to Mr Dutton is simple: “We want our friends back.” I told them that regardless of the outcome of Priya’s case, under Australian law, Mr Dutton has the power to pick up the phone, pick up his pen and bring this family home to Bilo. And I called on Mr Dutton to find it in his heart to let little, Australian-born Kopika and her family come home to Bilo in time for her 3rd birthday, this coming Saturday 12 May. We Biloelans are an optimistic bunch. That’s why we’re planning a birthday celebration for Kopika in our local Lions Park on Saturday. It’s a long way to Bilo. So we would love you to join with other friends of this beautiful family to celebrate Kopika’s birthday in Sydney (http://bit.ly/KopikaSyd) and Melbourne (http://bit.ly/KopikaMel). If you can’t make it to an event then why not join in the celebrations from your home. Upload a video, singing happy birthday, blow out some candles and make a wish that Minister Dutton will free Kopika and bring her family #HometoBilo. As I said, we’re an optimistic bunch. We know Mr Dutton has the power to make this happen. We believe he can put compassion above politics. But if he does not hear us in time, on Saturday, we will make sure that Kopika always knows that she comes from a town, and a country, that loves and wants her. Our town will never give up on this family. With your help, we know we can bring them #HometoBilo. Thank you, Angela