A young family from India is facing deportation all because they have a child with down syndrome who has been denied permanent residency.
Krishna and her partner Aneesh could be kicked out of their home in less than two weeks after their happy and healthy 10-year-old Aaryan was labelled a financial burden to society because he has down syndrome,Perth Now reports.
They face deportation because they have a child with Down syndrome. Picture: Facebook
“When I came to Australia I was hoping it was a country with more humanitarian grounds,” Ms Aneesh told 7NEWS.
“It hurts, because seeing your child being categorised as a significant cost, it hurts. It really hurts.”
The family, who also has an eight-year-old daughter, moved to Perth seven years ago and are highly skilled workers in telecommunications and cyber security industries where WA desperately needs more workers.
They have used Medicare for some of Aryeen’s appointments, but don’t draw on the NDIS.
However, the Federal Government said looking after him would be a significant price, costing about $664,000 over 10 years — a large part of that sum being carer payments and special education services.
Ten-year-old Aaryan is happy, healthy and mostly independent. Credit: 7NEWS
Ms Aneesh said they wouldn’t need a carer or special services as their children are privately schooled and have private health too.
“He’s physically capable and he’s able to do all his activities so he doesn’t need a carer or a supporter to help him,” Ms Aneesh said.
“If we were to tell my younger one we have to go back to India because of your brother’s condition, I can’t imagine what she will be thinking.”
Krishna Aneesh and Aneesh Kollikkara moved to WA with their children. Credit: 7NEWS
The family, on a bridging visa until March 15, had their application for permanent residency and an appeal rejected.
They’ve now started a petition in a desperate attempt to have that decision reversed.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles’ office told 7NEWS it wouldn’t comment due to privacy reasons.
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“I really plead with him to intervene on our case and grant us permanent residency,” Ms Aneesh said.
This article originally appeared on Perth Now and has been republished here with permission.
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