Peter Dutton says no compassion for Tamil asylum-seeker family moved to Perth detention centre

‘They are not refugees’: Peter Dutton slams decision to move Sri Lankan family from Christmas Island detention centre – and says it will encourage people smugglers

  • Peter Dutton says not to show compassion to Tamil asylum-seeker family of four
  • Tamil  family moved to community detention after two years on Christmas Island
  • Family allowed to stay in Perth until legal fight against deportation is resolved
  • Dutton claimed compassion would sent the wrong signal to people smugglers

Peter Dutton has cautioned against showing compassion to a Tamil asylum-seeker family of four from Biloela in Queensland who are fighting to stay in Australia.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has expressed his frustration at a Tamil asylum-seeker family moved into community detention after two years on Christmas Island.

Mr Dutton has spent years pushing back against a campaign to let the family return home to Biloela.

The Tamil asylum-seeker family (pictured)

He has long argued they are not owed protection and should be sent to Sri Lanka.

‘It’s been a frustrating case because every court, every tribunal, every decision maker has been very clear to this family that they are not refugees,’ Mr Dutton told Nine Entertainment.

‘This family has not ever been found to be owed protection.’

The Murugappan family was relocated to Perth after four-year-old Tharnicaa was sent there for medical treatment.

They will be allowed to stay in Perth until their legal fight against deportation is resolved.

Four-year-old Tharnicaa Biloela receiving medical treatment

Four-year-old Tharnicaa Biloela receiving medical treatment

But they will not be allowed back to Biloela and the government has not decided whether any of the family members can reapply to stay in Australia.

Mr Dutton claimed showing the family compassion would sent the wrong signal to people smugglers.

‘We’ve got to be very careful,’ he said.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said it was ‘preposterous’ to suggest people smugglers were watching the case.

Nades Murugappan (pictured arriving in Perth) holds up ID card of his Australian born daughter

Nades Murugappan (pictured arriving in Perth) holds up ID card of his Australian born daughter 

 ‘This is a family of a meat worker, his wife and two Australian-born kids from a regional town in Queensland,’ Mr McGowan told reporters.

‘They should just let them go back there and live out their lives.’