An Irish family living in Australia fear they may soon be deported.
The couple, who have been living and working in Australia for almost a decade recently applied to become permanent residents in the country.
During their application process, they were informed that their son, who has cystic fibrosis, may be denied as his condition could be deemed a financial burden to the Australian taxpayer.
Christine and Anthony Hyde moved from Dublin to Seymour during the recession and gained employment as a teacher and a bus driver.
Due to the lack of teachers in the rural area, Christine believed her chances of gaining permanent residency were good but both Christine and Anthony were told that they would have to undergo medical assessments as part of their applications. As Christine was pregnant at the time she had to wait until after the couple’s son was born to be assessed.
Due to the fact that their son, Darragh, was born to non-Australian nationals, he too had to undergo a medical assessment. Problems occurred when it was discovered that the little boy, born in 2015, had cystic fibrosis. The Hyde family had their application denied as Darragh was deemed as a financial burden to the Australian people.
The family has since been advised by a solicitor to appeal the decision and they have been for the last three years.
Though they continue to fight the family have said that they know they may have to consider returning to Ireland but don’t know what they will do if they come back home.
According to the Irish Times, Ms Hyde said;
“Darragh has no PPS number or anything. We would have to start applying for that. We don’t have a house. We don’t have anywhere to live. I don’t know how we’re going to get rent without any job or any bank account. I feel like we’re going to get off a plane and be homeless. It’s just… there’s nothing.”
The Hyde family are still currently waiting for the decision on their most recent appeal. The desperate family has started a petition to stay which currently has over 6,000 signatures.
