Zoe Moffatt
As the mornings continue to get colder and June rolls into July, a Sunbury family is facing the reality that this may be their last Australian winter.
The Kaur and Singh family’s deportation day of July 2, is looming just around the corner.
The reality that the family may be forced to leave Australia follows a denied 187 visa application, an approximately 19,000 signature petition and an appeal for ministerial intervention.
For Sukhdeep Kaur and Jaswinder Singh’s daughter, Ravneet Kaur, this means leaving behind her friends, her work in a medical center, and an offer to study a Bachelor of Psychology at RMIT.
Even though she is legally allowed to reside in Australia, Ravneet says she too will leave if her parents are deported.
“It’s difficult because I went to school here [from 2015], made friendships here that feel like family,” Ravneet said.
“If my parents have to go despite us coming out and seeking help… I mean, I won’t be able to live here… [even though]… I received my permanent residency.
“They are the reason I came here in the first place and if the system fails my parents, I don’t see the point of being happy here without them.”
Ravneet said the family was surprised the visa was refused and it has been an extremely stressful time since the decision was handed down.
“When we had the hearing we provided the tribunal with all the documents in relation to our case… and we were still hopeful until the decision came,” she said.
“It was very stressful and we weren’t actually expecting that outcome because the hearing felt very positive.
“My parents and my mental health has been depleting since that date.
“It’s very hard to cope with it, waking up to it every single day.”
Ravneet said the family is packing up all their belongings and selling their furniture in preparation of their deportation date, as they are not “entirely hopeful” of ministerial intervention.
“It’s really entirely up to the minister, he doesn’t have to intervene, so we’re not entirely hopeful or positive.
“I just can’t imagine starting life somewhere else because this is home… this is the place that… comes to mind when I think of home.”
Hawke MP Sam Rae said he does not comment on the specifics of individual cases due to privacy considerations, but he said he will always advocate for the people of Hawke.
“We’re all better off for our growing multicultural communities here in Hawke,” Mr Rae said, “I have directly raised this case with Minister Giles’ office on a number of occasions.”
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