SIX Chinese families living and working in Warrnambool could be deported because their English language skills have been deemed to be below standard.
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Their future will rest with Immigration Minister Chris Bowen who has indicated he will look at decisions by the migration review tribunal, which has decided three families must leave and is soon to rule on three others.
Deportation orders have been held over pending ministerial intervention.
One of the families was technically due to be sent home today.
The families, from various Chinese farming provinces, have been in Warrnambool for six years working at Midfield International abattoir and are also involved in local events and education.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan, who briefed Mr Bowen on the issue in Canberra, said he was confident the minister would investigate.
“He agreed to see me at very short notice and said he was prepared to review the decisions when they were all handed down,” Mr Tehan said.
“Mr Bowen was extremely forthcoming when I approached him. These families are very welcome and needed in the community.”
The Standard caught up with some of them on Sunday at the Albert Park community garden where they have been growing traditional vegetables and sharing their knowledge and produce.
“We are very anxious,” said 22-year-old Jingxiong (Leo) Huang, speaking on behalf of his parents Sheng Bin and Xiao Min.
“We were given 28 days to leave Australia which expires on July 31, but we have applied for ministerial intervention. This allows us to continue working and studying while waiting for the minister’s decision.”
Jingxiong is studying accountancy at RMIT university following completion of secondary schooling at Warrnambool’s Brauer College where 16-year-old Jing Li is doing year 10 studies. Jing and the rest of his family group were told on June 1 of the tribunal’s decision on their case.
“If I have to go back to China I can’t continue my education because the system is so different,” Jing said.
“I wouldn’t be able to catch up.
“Our family came out to Warrnambool on a working visa for four years, then went onto a bridging visa.
“We would like permanent residency.”
Warrnambool resident Christine McEwan, who taught Jingxiong and Jing at Brauer College, has written to the Immigration Department and Minister Bowen describing the Huang decision as a “travesty of justice” and inhumane.
She said they had originally been wooed from farming provinces and told they would be allowed to become Australian citizens once they displayed a good work ethic.
“The Huangs have been exemplary community members here in Warrnambool,” Ms McEwan said.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship told The Standard yesterday it would not be appropriate to discuss individual cases or matters under review for privacy reasons.
“The minister’s public interest powers are personal and non-compellable,” a department spokesman said.
“That means they enable the minister to grant a visa to people who have been found by a review tribunal not to satisfy the criteria for a visa, if he thinks it is in the public interest to do so.
“As ministerial intervention is intended to act as a safety net, the minister will generally only intervene in a relatively small number of cases where the circumstances are unique and exceptional.
“If the minister chooses to intervene, he may select a visa option recommended by the department, or he may also choose to grant a visa which he personally deems most appropriate to the circumstances.”
