Friends, I have more great news to share with you all. At 2:30 pm yesterday, our beloved Bilo family were visited by the Department of Home Affairs team at their home to learn that they have been granted permanent visas!

That marks exactly four years and five months since our friends were snatched from their home in a dawn raid on March 5th, 2018. They spent 4 years and three months being held in immigration detention in Melbourne, Christmas Island, and then community detention in Perth. But together, we have brought this courageous family home where they belong.

The family have settled back into their quiet lives in Biloela. Kopika and Tharnicaa are happily attending school. Nades is about to resume work at the local Teys meatworks, and Priya has been setting up their home and reconnecting with the community. Now they can feel the peace that only permanency can bring.

All we needed was one small step of courage by the government. We are grateful to the Albanese Labor government, for acting swiftly and decisively to return our friends home to us.

People power has brought this family home, plain and simple. You brought this family home. This campaign started as a small group of ordinary people fighting for their friends. And then it became something much, much bigger. This campaign has shown what we can do when we refuse to be divided by fear and instead stand together as one.

I thank you for all you’ve done.

With hope,

Angela