City fights to keep Tamil family facing deportation in Ballarat.

The message to the the federal government couldn’t have been clearer. More than 300 people gathered in Alfred Deakin Place on Monday, in a last ditch attempt to save a Tamil family facing deportation. 

Neelavannan Paramanathan and his wife Suganthini fled Sri Lanka in 2008 in the midst of a civil war. They sought asylum in Australia in 2012, before resettling in Ballarat with their daughter Nive, 3, Nivash, 7, and Kartie, 5, in 2013. 

To date, there have been no assurances of the family’s safety, if they were forced to return to Sri Lanka. 

Event organiser and refugee advocate Kath Morton said the peaceful protest was a symbol of solidarity.  

“There are children, families and people from all over Victoria at this gathering who just want assurances that this family will be safe,” Ms Morton said.

Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates said the family’s predicament was gut-wrenching. “People have really opened their hearts and embraced them,” Cr Coates said. “It’s so rewarding for our community because they give back in so many ways. They are involved in voluntary work and in their school communities. They’re just really loved by the people who know them.”

Serious concerns have been raised if they were forced back to Sri Lanka, Kartie and Nive, would not be recognised as citizens because they were born aboard.

The family have exhausted all avenues of staying in Australia. A final plea for ministerial intervention has been denied. 

They are said to be living everyday in fear.

Rural Australians for Refugees member Cathie Bond said it was time the federal government opened up the floodgates to allow for compassion. 

"It's time the government showed humility," she said. "We as a society benefit from acts of kindness. If this government can treat these vulnerable people so cruelly, what kind of impact does that have on the whole of society?” 

Event organiser Rose Ertler said she hoped the gathering would implore the government to act. “I just hope it shows the government how welcome and loved this family are in Ballarat,” Ms Ertler said.

The protest comes after almost 2000 people signed a petition last year, calling for the family to stay in Australia.

The family are surviving day to day on the generosity of the Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees who are providing them with food and ongoing financial support. 

A spokesman for immigration minister Peter Dutton said the family’s case had been considered by the government but all avenues of staying in Australia had been exhausted.

The Courier, Ballarat