My aged mother (80 years) FLORENCE ALLEN and my autistic sister (50 years) SHERYIL ALLEN have been living in Melbourne since February 2012. My three brothers and myself along with our spouses and children are responsible, lawful Australian citizens, some of us since 1991. Since my father’s passing, my mother and autistic sister lived in India with my youngest brother up and until he migrated to Australia in 2012.

As the entire family lives in Melbourne, I applied for permanent residency for my aged mother and autistic sister. This would enable us to care for our mother and sister. We also have extensive family of Uncle, Aunts, cousins and community groups who have always provided support. All my brothers and myself, including our spouses have substantial jobs and contribute to the Australian economy. Given the fact that we could fund the living expenses, day centre fees and medical insurance for our aged mother and autistic sister I applied to sponsor them for their permanent residency in Australia.

The application was progressively rejected and eventually was referred to the Hon Minister Peter Dutton, Minister of Immigration and Border Protection for Ministerial Intervention on compassionate grounds. On 30 August 2017 we were sadly informed that the Assistant Minister decided that it would not be in public interest to intervene.

Returning to India would mean my Mum has no relatives who would be capable of caring for her and my autistic sister on a long term basis. My autistic sister will require to be institutionalised. This would cause her great trauma, despair and inconsolable grief as she has never lived a life without her family and has no understanding of any other language other than English (being the language always spoken at home even in India).

Hon Mr Dutton, my autistic sister is 50 years old and comes with absolutely no cost to the government. She has been attending a day centre in Melbourne, the fees of which were fully funded by the family. We are so glad Sheryil has the opportunity to enjoy the humanitarian concept Australia adopts of engaging disability within the community enabling mainstream society see ‘perfection’ in the imperfection. Well done Australia!

My autistic sister has very simple needs which the family can easily provide. A walk in the park, a drive down the countryside, playing with her dolls and most importantly to be surrounded by her family. She loves her nieces and nephews immensely. Having an autistic aunt in our children’s midst has etched their characters enabling them to be true value driven Australian citizens.

My autistic sister is a true blessing in our lives and in her own way wants the family and society to be happy and live a life with no judgement. Please, please Hon. Mr. Dutton do not judge her based on her disability. We will be forever grateful if you just consider her case a without the disability lens and give her permanent residency without access to disability benefits.

As for my Mother she is 80 years old. God willing she may have another decade on earth. Her life has been immensely hard, besides raising an autistic daughter, she lost a young son of 24 years to cancer and my Dad passed away quite soon to a heart condition. My three brothers and I along with our spouses and children, want our Mother to just have few of life’s simple and natural pleasures as she ages...like the joy of grandchildren, the love and care of children,time to relax and to eventually be content knowing that her autistic daughter is being safely cared for in the hands of none other than her children. This will not be possible if my Mother has to leave this beautiful country as all her children and grandchildren are in Australia.

The failure to recognise unity and care of a family that has considered disability as blessing is likely to result in serious irreversible harm and continuing hardship, not only to my Mum and my sister but also to our Australian family unit.

Please sign and plead with the Honourable Minister Mr. Peter Dutton to let my aged mother and autistic sister stay on compassionate grounds.