Irish Expats In Oz Face Deportation Due To Their Son’s Illness

A long-stay expat family whose son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis are facing deportation from Australia.

Dubliners Christine and Anthony Hyde arrived in Australia ten years ago and are now living in the Victoria State town of Seymour. Tragically, their son Darragh, born in Australia and now three years old, was recently diagnosed as suffering from cystic fibrosis. Both parents are in work, with Anthony a part-time bus driver and Christine as the local primary school’s assistant headmistress.

In 2015, the couple applied for permanent residency, secure in the belief they met all the requirements for a skilled visa. As a result of the required medical tests, little Darragh’s cystic fibrosis was diagnosed and his parents’ applications were refused due to his condition and the possibility a taxpayer-funded lung transplant might become necessary in the future.

Durragh’s parents immediately appealed the decision, pointing out that his medication, Kalydeco, was covered under Australia’s PBS Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme. Darragh has responded well to the medication, has not been admitted to hospital since his diagnosis and his few GP visits are normal for a child of his age. The appeal is due to be heard on April 30 by the Administrative Review Tribunal, and his parents have now set up a petition, at present signed by some 6,000 responders.

Should the appeal fail, the couple and their son are facing deportation. At the same time, Australian officials have allowed some 30 convicted foreign criminals including sex offenders, drug traffickers and a domestic violence murderer to stay in Australia, even although their visas have been cancelled.