An Irish couple who have been living in Australia for 10 years face being deported in eight days - just because their son is sick.

Anthony and Christine Hyde, from Dublin, migrated in 2009 and are living in the town of Seymour, Victoria, along with their son Darragh, three, who was born in Australia.

The family had their application for permanent residency rejected in 2015 after their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and his potential treatment was assessed as too burdensome on the taxpayer.

Anthony and Christine Hyde moved from Dublin in 2009 and are living in a small town of Seymour, Victoria, with their son

The couple appealed the decision and their case was heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal in May.

The tribunal found that their case met the criteria for a ministerial intervention.

But with just eight days to go until they face deportation, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is yet to take up their case.

Mr Hyde is a part-time bus driver while Ms Hyde is an assistant principal at the local primary school.

They have set up a petition, which has almost 6,000 signatures and they hope to draw attention to their story and avoid being deported.

'Please sign and help us ask the Minister to let our son stay in Australia,' they said.

They faced being deported because their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and treatment could cost taxpayer money

Meanwhile more than 30 criminals ranging from a wife murderer and sex offenders to armed robbers and drug traffickers have been allowed to stay in Australia, despite having their visas cancelled

It emerged in May that more than 30 criminals ranging from a wife murderer and sex offenders to armed robbers and drug traffickers have been allowed to stay in Australia, despite having their visas cancelled.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) overturned 34 decisions made by delegates for the Home Affairs and Immigration ministers involving serious offenders.

Among those given the green light, are Kenyan-born killer Paul Jason Margach, who was jailed after he repeatedly stabbed his wife Tina in front of one of their young children at their Melbourne home in 2004.

Convicted African-born sex offender Malipo Muyobe also had his visa cancellation overruled, as did an unnamed Chinese triad organised crime gang member jailed for 13 years for trafficking a commercial quality of ecstasy and possession of ice.

Mauritian stalker Jean Marie Amoorthum, who was convicted of stalking and threatening a young female with a knife, also had his cancellation overturned.

Statistics from AAT's latest annual report show that the tribunal only affirmed 35 per cent, or 4,432, of the migration visa decisions made by ministerial delegates in 2017-18.

The latest cases are on top of 164 criminals saved from deportation by the Administrative Appeals ­Tribunal between 2010 and 2018.

Out of the previous cases, eight were convicted of murder, 23 were found guilty of armed robbery, 33 were drug dealers, 17 were rapists and eight were convicted of murder.