Murugappan family allowed to return to Biloela – By David Crowe   A family of asylum seekers who were forced to leave their home in the Queensland town of Biloela will be given a pathway to become Australian residents under a decision by the Albanese government to end years of dispute over their treatment.   Source:smh.com.au Treasurer Jim Chalmers issued the decision on Friday in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister to give the four members of the Murugappan family bridging visas that allow them to return to Biloela when they wish. “The effect of my intervention enables the family to return to Biloela, where they can reside lawfully in the community on bridging visas while they work towards the resolution of their immigration status, in accordance with Australian law,” Chalmers said in a statement. “I have spoken to the family and wished them well for their return.” With the ...

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Biloela Tamil asylum seeker family set to return to town after election result – By Tobi Loftus Source:abc.net.au Supporters of a central Queensland Tamil asylum seeker family say they are hopeful the family are just weeks away from returning home. Labor promised during the campaign that if it won the election the Nadesalingam family would be allowed to return home to Biloela. Family friend Angela Fredericks said there was “so much relief” among the Home2Bilo campaigners after Labor’s election win. “I honestly don’t think I can find the words to explain it,” Ms Fredericks said. “There is so much excitement, so much relief and exuberance. It has all been worth it. “I think at the end of the day we have shown Australia that love, and humanity can win and community can win.” Just over four years ago the Nadesalingam family, also known as the Murugappan family, were removed from their home ...

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Prime Minister – Opinion – A stronger economy for a stronger future At the start of the campaign, the first thing I said is that I love Australia. It’s a love shared by Australia’s multicultural communities – so many of whom I have joined with and celebrated new year and seasonal festivals, as well as holy days of dedication and renewal. We can be so proud of Australia. We are the most successful multicultural, multifaith, immigration nation on earth.  We have achieved this because we respect and we value our diversity – and we all love this country equally and with a patriot’s love.  I know Australia’s multicultural communities have carried a heartfelt burden in recent years, particularly with closed borders due to COVID. I want to thank you for what you did to keep Australians safe.  ...

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UNOFFICIAL The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston Minister for Families and Social Services Minister for Women’s Safety Manager of Government Business in the Senate JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Monday 2 May 2022 COST OF LIVING HELP FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS An extra 50,000 older Australians will have access to more affordable health care and medications to help ease cost of living pressures under changes to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. A re-elected Morrison Government will increase the singles income test threshold from $57,761 to around $90,000 from July 1 this year, to give more senior Australians access to the concession card.  The couple’s threshold will also increase from $92,416 to $144,000. At the Commonwealth level, all card holders are eligible for cheaper medications and health care, and they may also be eligible for state, territory and local government savings such as discounted rates, electricity and gas ...

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Prime Minister – Joint Media Release – Additional funding for youth-led mental health and suicide prevention initiatives – Sunday 1 May 2022   UNOFFICIAL The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister The Hon. Greg Hunt MP Minister for Health and Aged Care The Hon. David Coleman MP Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention JOINT MEDIA RELEASE   Sunday 1 May 2022 ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR YOUTH-LED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION INITIATIVES The Morrison Government is continuing its support for young people with a $5.5 million investment in youth mental health organisation batyr. batyr is a preventative mental health organisation, created and led by young people, for young people. It aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness and encourage young people to reach out for support through engagement, education and empowerment. The new funding includes $3.8 million, delivered through the 2022-23 Budget, for batyr ...

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Prime minister Scott Morrison Linked In Source:linkedin.com/ Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne at just aged 52. Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman. His achievements were the product of his talent, his discipline and passion for the game he loved. But Shane was more than this to Australians. Shane was one of our nation’s greatest characters. His humour, his passion, his irreverence, his approachability ensured he was loved by all. Australians loved him. We all did. We are all bewildered today by this sad and sudden loss. And for this to happen the day after losing the indomitable Rod Marsh, it doesn’t seem imaginable. There was none like Shane. He lived his life his way. He had his great ...

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‘Middle order sorted’: Struggling cricket team’s incredible lifeline – by Nick McCallum and Digital Staff source:-7news.com.au A cricket team in Melbourne’s south-east has been rescued by four unlikely saviours. Hallam Kalora Park Cricket Club coach Scott Morrison struggled for under-15 players. “It looked like we weren’t going to have a side,” Morrison said. But then, up pulled a car and out jumped Dylan, Ryan, Kevin and Bryan Ranaweera. The 13-year-old quadruplets to the rescue. “We thought, you know, how good’s this?” Morrison said. Junior sporting teams often struggle for numbers, but few find a lifeline like this. “What’s the odds of that, like, quads turning up?” Morrison said. They were born tiny at 29 weeks just after their parents arrived from Sri Lanka. They’ve always done everything together including cricket. “They started playing very well, and batting and bowling, and I am so happy,” their mum Veronica Ranaweera said. ...

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A Pleasure To Serve My Country As Consul General of Sri Lanka for New South Wales and Queensland in Australia, Lakshman Hulugalle has many years of experience promoting the country’s interests. As the former director-general of the Media Center for National Security, he successfully disseminated information globally and navigated swathes of media scrutiny on Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism with tact and composure. Embarking on his new role amid the pandemic in 2020 to serve Sri Lanka single-mindedly once again, Mr. Hulugalle has already gathered together Australians and Australians of Sri Lankan origin to accelerate his plans for the country. Speaking with Business Today, Mr. Hulugalle said that he focuses on bringing suitable investments and investors to Sri Lanka while promoting Australian tourists to visit the country. As the pandemic wanes, he hopes that with borders opening and fewer restrictions to travel, Australians would confidently come to Sri Lanka for ...

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OFFICIAL THE HON ALEX HAWKE MP MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS MEDIA RELEASE SYDNEY COMMUNITY LEADERS’ FORUM Prime Minister Scott Morrison and I met with senior leaders from Sydney’s multicultural communities to listen to their concerns about Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak, and discuss the support being made available by the Australian Government. We know that South West and Western Sydney in particular are going through a tough time with the current outbreak. The Prime Minister and I thanked the more than 100 community leaders in attendance during the online forum for their vital work in keeping their communities and all Australians safe. ...

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Prime Minister – Joint Media Release – Pfizer vaccine approved – Monday 25 January 2021   The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister The Hon. Greg Hunt MP Minister for Health and Aged Care     JOINT MEDIA RELEASE     Monday 25 January 2021   PFIZER VACCINE APPROVED The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has today provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. The Pfizer vaccine has met strict standards for safety, quality and efficacy. The TGA provisional approval is for individuals 16 years of age and older. Two doses will be required – at least 21 days apart. A priority group of Australians are expected to now receive their first dose of the vaccine as soon as it can be received from Pfizer and the necessary checks are undertaken by the TGA, prior to its distribution. The latest advice given to the Government from Pfizer is that shipping ...

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