Newly elected Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, met with the Nadesalingam family and welcomed them back into the Biloela community after several years in Australian detention.

Four years ago the Nadesalingam family were taken from their home in Biloela by Australian immigration officials and placed in immigration detention. Their detainment caused an outcry from both the Biloela community as well as the international community.  As a campaign pledge, Albanese stated that if he is elected the family would be able to return to their home in Biloela. 

As a result of the Labor Party's electoral success, the family was granted bridging visas allowing them to return to Biloela. 

On 15 June Albanese met with the family and tweeted that "the Biloela community have welcomed back a much loved family". The family thanked Albanese with flowers. 

So lovely to meet with the Nadesalingam family today. They’re finally home, Tharnicaa and Kopika are going to school, and the Biloela community have welcomed back a much loved family. pic.twitter.com/eBS610f5Zf

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 15, 2022

During a press conference, Albanese stated that while the decision of permanent settlement rests with the Immigration Minister, he sees "no impediment to the family being settled permanently in Australia,"

Speaking to The Guardian Australia, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles reiterated the Prime Minister's position. Giles stated that he is intending to "allow the family to continue in Biloela with certainty" he continued "that's what the community wants and what Australians expect."

Though this family of Tamil asylum seekers has been allowed to stay in Australia, earlier this month the newly elected government turned back a boat of asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka. 

Read more here and here