Thread by @HometoBilo

Mr Morrison is lying.

His Ministers can grant permanent visas for any reason they want.

But they won't even give QLD-born 4 year old Tharni the same temporary visa they gave her mum, dad & sister.

That's how they're stopping her family coming safely #HometoBilo

#AusVotes2022

https://twitter.com/KJBar/status/1527146641761128449

"Successive immigration ministers have been able to use their intervention powers to grant the Biloela family visas ever since the very first refusal decision was made many years ago."

- Abul Rizvi (@RizviAbul)
Former Dep. Secretary
Dept of Immigration

independentaustralia.net/politics/polit…

STATEMENT: HOME TO BILO CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO PM’S LIES

“Today, the Prime Minister was asked by journalists when Immigration Minister Alex Hawke would make a decision on whether the Nasdesalingam family could go home to Biloela.

“The Prime Minister responded with a lie."

🧵

The Prime Minister repeated misinformation that “that matter is still undetermined in the courts.”

There is nothing before the courts. Mr Morrison is incorrect.

Further, the request for Tharnicaa to have her refugee claims assessed is before the Minister.

Tharnicaa's need for protection has never been assessed, because Mr Morrison’s Ministers have repeatedly refused to allow this.

Last year, the Federal Court determined that Tharnicaa was denied procedural fairness.

#HomeToBilo #AusVotes2022

The PM’s claim that visas can't be granted to the family without a finding of protection is also completely false.

Under the Migration Act, the Minister has a god-like power to grant visas for almost any reason they choose. As a fmr Min. for Immigration, he should know this.

Minister Hawke has the power to intervene at any time to return the family. He simply chooses not to use it, despite the majority of Australians wanting to see this family allowed #HometToBilo.

Minister Hawke has even refused to grant four-year-old Tharni the same temporary bridging visa he granted to her mum, dad and sister.

This is the only reason that Tharni remains in community detention, preventing her family from coming safely home to Biloela.