A Tamil family who are fighting deportation to Sri Lanka expressed their “relief” after an Australian federal court ruled they were denied procedural fairness, as their lawyers continued the battle to release them from detention and to their home in Biloela.

The family, Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two Australian born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa, told family friend Angela Fredericks that they now felt they could present to immigration authorities why it was not safe for them to be sent to Sri Lanka.

“We were very much encouraged by the judgment and it strengthened our resolve that we are moving in the right direction,” Fredericks said. “This is the first real win in two years. While we’ve been granted injunctions to stay, this is the first time we’ve been able to show that something hasn’t been right. So for Priya, she definitely feels that sense of relief.”

“Ultimately we hope that this leads to the lawyers being able to submit all the evidence that Sri Lanka is not safe,” Fredericks added. “Since they put their claims in five years ago there’s never been a chance to put forward any information.”

Lawyers now have until Friday to reach a “an agreed minute of proposed orders” with the Australian government.

“If that can’t be agreed upon within 14 days each party should file and serve a minute of proposed orders to give effect to the reasons for the judge then to consider,” said Carina Ford, a lawyer for the family.

“It also remains open to the minister of home affairs or immigration at any stage to consider releasing the applicant and her family back into the Biloela community,” Ford added.

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