A Scottish family who have been living and working in Australia for the past decade will be deported tonight after a visa battle with the country’s immigration department. Mark Green was recruited by a South Australian solar company in 2012 to fill a shortage of highly skilled people. electricians solar installations.
After Green took the job, it caused a big move for his entire family, including his wife Kelly and daughter Rebecca.
The Green family will be deported from South Australia after an immigration battle. (Roy VanDerVegt)
The employers had promised the family permanent residence.
However, Green’s family have faced a number of obstacles after several companies he worked for collapsed, meaning they have not been granted permanent residency and are living on a bridging visa
The Department of Immigration has decided not to extend the family’s visa and they are scheduled to be deported back to Scotland at 10pm tonight.
South Australian MP Frank Pangallo, who has been fighting to keep the family in Australia, called on the federal government to reconsider its decision while speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB.
“We are asking Minister Andrew Giles to step in and allow them to apply to stay in Australia while they are in Australia instead of the costs of going to Scotland,” he said.
“The Green family has been here for 10 years, $200,000 has been spent trying to meet visa requirements here.
“They have not been a burden to the taxpayers, they educated their child out of their own pocket, out of their own medical expenses.
“They contribute to the community and are well-loved.”
9news.com.au has contacted the Department of Immigration for comment.
Green spoke to Fordham on 2GB last week and said the stress on his family is inexplicable.
“You wouldn’t believe the stress and the anxiety and the anger,” Green said.
“I don’t even want to think about what my daughter and my wife are going through.
“We’re just looking to be classed as Australian citizens, we’re not looking for handouts, we’re just looking for a bit of help.”
Kelly and Mark Green when they spoke to A Current Affair about their immigration battle. (A Current Affairs)
“Don’t ignore the double standard here, the minister is happy to show compassion when there is enough publicity to make him look like a hero,” Fordham said.
“It will step in to help one family but allow another to be removed from Australia.”
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