Who are the Biloela Family? An Overview of the Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker Family
Priya, Nades, Kopika, and Tharnicaa, often referred to as the Nadesalingam’s or the Biloela family, are a Tamil Sri Lankan family who were fighting to stay in Australia as asylum seekers. The sprung into the media spotlight due to multiple medical issues, and two attempted deportations, one which saw them end up on Christmas Island. Here is an overview of their story.
Separate beginnings
Priya and Nades are both refugees from Sri Lanka, and didn’t know each other there. They arrived in Australia separately in 2013 and 2012 respectively, and were set up and arranged for marriage in March of 2014. At this point, Nades had moved to the rural central Queensland town of Biloela as other asylum seekers had notified him of work there. Priya had been released from detention in Sydney, where she was living.
The pair marry in September 2014, and Priya moves to Biloela with Nades. They had their first child Kopika in May of 2015, and their second child Tharnicaa in June of 2017. Whilst starting a family in Biloela, the pair were constantly facing visa applications and legal battles.
The first attempted deportation
The family’s bridging visas were set to expire on the 4th of March 2018. Their visa does not arrive, and the next day, officers show up at the family’s home and tell them they are being taken to a detention centre. They are not allowed to pack their things, including no food for Tharnicaa who is less than a year old.
The family are held in Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation where they are almost deported but an injunction stops it. Whilst their legal battles continue, Tharnicaa develops dental problems due to vitamin deficiencies caused by poor nutrition and lack of sunlight in detention.
Meanwhile, their Biloela community are left shocked by the family’s sudden disappearance. They piece together what happens and start organising and campaigning to bring the family home to Biloela. Their change.org petition ends up getting almost 600,000 signatures.
The second attempted deportation
The family gain significant media attention when they are almost deported a second time. On the 28th of August 2019, The family are forced onto a plane, but this time campaigners and supporters organise quickly. Their lawyer organises an emergency injunction, whilst supporters gather and protest at Melbourne Airport. The plane departs for Darwin, but the urgent injunction comes through and the family are taken off the plane in Darwin where they spend the night.
The following morning, the injunction is extended, confirming the family can’t be deported. Supporters gather outside the hotel the family is being held in. The family are loaded onto a plane again, but this time the plane takes them to Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory closer to Indonesia than mainland Australia. They are housed in a detention facility that had been shuttered. Here, the family face multiple issues, including Priya stepping through the floor and the family sleeping on single bunk beds when they arrive.
Here on Christmas Island, supporters and friends visit them in-person, as they had done in Melbourne, and the family make friends with locals.
Tharnicaa’s health worsens
In June of 2021, the family gain further media attention when Tharnicaa is admitted to Christmas Island Hospital. She had been sick for over 10 days, but the family’s pleas for further medical assistance are not listened to. The doctor at Christmas Island Hospital requests her to be treated in Perth.
On the 7th of June 2021, Tharnicaa is flown to Perth with Priya, where she is diagnosed with untreated pneumonia and a blood infection. Later that week Tharnicaa celebrates her 4th birthday whilst in hospital, her first birthday outside of detention. A few days later, a decision is made that the family should remain in community detention in Perth instead of going back to Christmas Island. Nades and Kopika are flown to Perth to be reunited with Priya and Tharnicaa.
Seen by our country’s leaders
The family stays in the spotlight – supporters continue to get the family media coverage and raise questions on ABC’s Q&A. On the 20th of September 2021, the family is featured on ABC’s Australian Story. Both major party leaders are also asked questions about the family, with Scott Morrison saying the family will not get “special treatment”, whilst Anthony Albanese says the family should be allowed to return home.
With the Australian Labor Party winning the 2022 federal election in May, the family are first given bridging visas so that the family are allowed to return home to Biloela. On the 10th of June 2022, the family arrive in Biloela to a huge welcome from the community. And on the 5th of August 2022, they are given their permanent visas.
