The moment of truth: Sri Lankan family facing deportation in a case that's divided the country are set to learn their fate TODAY
- Tamil asylum seeker family will find out whether they will stay in Australia
- The family has been detained on Christmas Island since their secret re-location
- Priya, husband Nadesalingam and their children currently on Christmas Island
- Queensland rural town of Biloela has rallied behind the Sri Lankan family of four
- Peter Dutton has accused Tamil family of dragging their kids through the courts
The Tamil asylum seeker family who won the hearts of a tiny rural community before they were told to leave the country will learn their fate today over a deportation saga that has divided Australia.
The Sri Lankan family made the Queensland country town of Biloela their home, with the tight-knit community rallying behind the family as they learn if they can stay in the country.
Priya, her husband Nadesalingam and their Australian-born children Kopika, four, and Tharunicaa, two, are being held on Christmas Island after the family were granted an 11th-hour injunction against their deportation last week.
Labor has reportedly rented space in Biloela's civic centre as the 6,000 residents await the final decision on the deportation.
Locals say the ALP has reserved the centre for two hours on Wednesday afternoon amid rumours opposition leader Anthony Albanese will visit the central Queensland town.
The Tamil asylum seeker family who won the hearts of a tiny rural community before they were told to leave the country will find out their fate today
The Sri Lankan family made the Queensland country town of Biloela their home, with the town now rallying behind the family as they learn if they can stay in the country
Priya, her husband Nadesalingam and their Australian-born children Kopika, four, and Tharunicaa, two, are being held on Christmas Island
The family have been detained on Christmas Island since they were secretly re-located there on Friday evening.
A court hearing set for Wednesday will test the youngest Australian-born child's case for Australia's protection.
Banana Shire Mayor Nev Ferrier said Queensland Labor senator Murray Watt contacted him about the visit on Tuesday.
'Senator Murray Watt rang me he said he was trying to get Mr Albanese to get up here on Wednesday,' Cr Ferrier said.
'He said Mr Albanese was keen to visit.'
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Cr Ferrier said he warned the senator the visit could be 'foolish' depending on the result.
'It's all a bit much, it's really blown out a bit.'
Civic centre management confirmed the booking from 12.30 to 2.30pm but had no other details.
Despite the friendly local warning, Mr Albanese is reportedly determined to visit Biloela as the future of Priya and Nadesalingam and their Australian-born children Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, is decided.
On Tuesday Mr Albanese called on the government to let the family stay, labelling the saga 'publicly funded cruelty'.
Mr Albanese is reportedly determined to visit Biloela as the future of Priya and Nadesalingam and their Australian-born children Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, is decided
The family have been detained on Christmas Island since they were secretly re-located there on Friday evening
A succession of courts, including the High Court, have found the parents and the oldest child are not refugees and do not qualify for Australia's protection.
Cr Ferrier admitted the 'endless' publicity and legal drama had been wearing on the tiny town.
'Some are getting sick of it but most people are still behind them, my word.
'But some people just want it to be over. It will be nice to have a decision one way or the other.'
He admitted some members of the community had turned on the Tamil family, believing they should return home.
'The community is a bit divided because they just want it to be over.'
While protests have rallied behind the family, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claims the couple have unfairly dragged their two children through the drawn-out court appeal.
While protests have rallied behind the family, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claims the couple have unfairly dragged their two children through the drawn-out court appeal
Mr Dutton has rounded on the couple, saying the reason they've been in Australia for so long is because they have refused to accept rulings that they are not genuine refugees.
He said 'excessive' appeals had kept them here and now they were complaining about having to leave the life they established in the Queensland town of Biloela.
'People have the ability to appeal. That's their legal right,' Mr Dutton told reporters on Tuesday.
'But you can't appeal, refuse the umpire's decision and then delay and delay and delay through subsequent appeal processes and then say it is unfair that you have been here so long and therefore you have established those connections to the community.
'It doesn't cut both ways.'
He said Priya and Nadesalingam's Australian-born children Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, had been put in an unfair situation.
'I think it is unfair to the children in this case where the parents were given a very definite decision that they weren't going to stay here in Australia many years ago and the kids have been drawn through - or dragged through - that process in the subsequent years.'
Mr Dutton has rounded on the couple, saying the reason they've been in Australia for so long is because they have refused to accept rulings that they are not genuine refugees
The government has warned of a return to the dark days of mass drownings at sea if it makes an exception for a family deemed ineligible of protection.
They say people smugglers will kick their trade back into high gear if there's a perception Australia is showing leniency towards illegal boat arrivals like Priya and Nades.
Nades has said his links to Tamil Tigers insurgents who battled Sri Lanka's government during the country's civil war mean he's in danger of persecution if he goes home.
But Mr Dutton says he travelled back to Sri Lanka on a number of occasions and he had been unable to convince a succession of courts that he would be in danger.
Nades and Priya came separately to Australia illegally by boat after the war ended. They met here and had two children before settling in Biloela.
The town has waged a spirited campaign to get the family back since they were put in immigration detention last year.
Since then the family's plight has gained national attention, with a series of supporting rallies staged in capital cities on the weekend.
