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Sports

Socceroos striker Martin Boyle returns to Hibernian, scores Edinburgh derby equalizer against Hearts with last kick of the game

Fan favorite Martin Boyle enjoyed a fairytale return to Hibernian as he came off the bench to score a late equalizer against arch-rivals Hearts in front of a full house at Easter Road.

Lawrence Shankland’s first competitive goal for the Hearts in the 21st minute looked as if it was going to be enough to secure a third Edinburgh derby victory in succession for the visitors.

But the Socceroo Boyle, who has returned just seven months after leaving in a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Faisaly, struck with the last kick of the game, sparking a mini pitch invasion from the jubilant home support.

An Australian striker playing for Scottish side Hibernian runs down the touchline as ecstatic fans roar and punch the air..
Martin Boyle left it late to score an equalizer against Hearts that sent Hibernian fans wild in the stands. (Getty Images/SNS Group: Rob Casey)

Manager Lee Johnson hailed Boyle’s “Roy of the Rovers” return.

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The 29-year-old Australia international only signed for Hibs on Saturday.

And after being introduced as a 62nd-minute sub, Boyle sparked bedlam inside a packed Easter Road as he struck with the last kick of the game.

“If you wrote a comic book strip and he was the star of the show, I’m not sure you could write it better than that,” Johnson said.

“He’s buzzing, but the boys were buzzing as well when we told them yesterday (that he had signed).”

Boyle had not played for six weeks prior to his Easter Road return and Johnson admits he had to weigh up whether to include him in the squad.

“It was about 9pm last night,” he said after being asked when he knew Boyle would be eligible.

“There was a bit of deliberation about whether I should play him, from one particular key figure at the club who didn’t think I should, but I will remind him gently — very, very gently — that’s my role.”

Livingston secured their first Premiership win of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

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Categories
Australia

The Nadesalingam family’s ‘very happy life’ in Biloela now that visas approved

The Nadesalingam family are living a “very happy life” in Biloela, just under two months after their return to the town.

The four members of the Tamil asylum seeker family were on Friday granted permanent residency visas, bringing to an end their four-and-half-year immigration order.

“My girls’ life is safe,” mum Priya Nadaraja said.

“[We’re] feeling very happy.”

Priya, her husband Nades Murugappan and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa have been living in Biloela, in regional Queensland, since June after the new Labor government granted them bridging visas.

The family previously spent four years in immigration detention after Priya’s visa expired in 2018 and both she and her husband’s claims for refugee status were rejected by the former Coalition government.

“A long journey, four and a half years… hard life,” Priya said.

Two smiling girls in school uniform.
Kopika and Tharnicaa Nadesalingam are enjoying being back at school. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)

Priya said she and Nades were thankful to all of their supporters and friends, and to the federal government for the visas.

Nades has returned to work at the Biloela meatworks, where he worked before the family was taken away by immigration officials in 2018. The couple is also looking to start up a food van.

Priya is also learning how to drive.

“I’m good. Got confidence quickly,” she said.

She said the girls were back at school and loving it.

“I like learning because we get to learn maths and we get to be much more smarter,” Kopika said.

For Tharnicaa, seeing her friends was her favorite part about going to school.

The decision by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to grant the family permanent residence visas has opened up a war of words between the government and opposition.

Mr Giles said the decision followed “careful consideration” of the family’s “complex and specific circumstances”.

“This government made a commitment before the election that, if elected, we would allow the family to return to Biloela and resolve the family’s immigration status,” he said on Friday.

Two smiling men stand on either side of a smiling woman and two smiling little girls.
The Nadesalingam family met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June after their return to Queensland.(Twitter: @alboMP)

But Shadow Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the decision to give the family a permanent visa undermined the immigration policies of past Coalition governments.

“Actions have consequences and this sets a high-profile precedent,” she said.

“It undermines the policy that if you come here illegally you will never settle in Australia.”

Banana Shire Mayor Nev Ferrier hopes this decision is the end of the family’s ordeal.

“People think the boats will keep coming because of that, but we’ll keep turning boats back hopefully,” he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with this family.”

Biloela now on the tourism map

He said the plight of the family, and the community response the family had received, had put Biloela on the national tourism map.

“I’ve had people tell me they’ve come to Biloela because they’ve heard about it,” he said.

Nadesalingam family
The Nadesalingam family were granted permanent Australian visas.(Australian Story: Robert Koenig-Luck)

Family friend Angela Fredericks said the “Home to Bilo” campaign that she was a spokesperson for would not be wrapping up just because the family was home.

“I truly believe this case is a really important case in Australia’s history,” she said.

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Categories
Australia

Tamil asylum seeker family the Nadesalingams granted permanent visas after four-year battle

The Tamil family at the center of a four-year immigration battle have received permanent visas, ending a community-driven campaign against their deportation.

Priya Nadaraja, Nades Murugappan and their daughters Kopika and Tharnicaa have been living in Biloela in regional Queensland since June, after the new Labor government granted them bridging visas.

The family had spent four years in immigration detention after their visas expired in 2018.

The ABC has confirmed the family was visited by the Department of Home Affairs team at their Biloela home today and told they had been granted permanent visas.

Family friend and “Home to Bilo” campaigner Angela Fredericks was with the family when officials visited.

“They let us know the news the minister was deciding to intervene and use his powers to grant all four family members permanent visas,” Ms Fredericks said.

“It was a very tense day as we knew they were coming but had no idea what for.

“So when they said the words ‘permanent’, there were just immediate tears and just such excitement and jubilation.

“To get to say to the girls ‘you get to stay in Australia forever’, there was just a big yay from Kopika.”

Nadesalingam family
The Nadesalingam family were granted permanent Australian visas.(Australian Story: Robert Koenig-Luck)

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the decision followed “careful consideration” of the family’s “complex and specific circumstances”.

“This government made a commitment before the election that, if elected, we would allow the family to return to Biloela and resolve the family’s immigration status,” he said.

“Today, the government has delivered on that promise.

“I extend my best wishes to the Nadesalingam family.”

The family was taken into immigration detention in 2018 after the parents’ bridging visas expired.

They were found by the Coalition government not to meet Australia’s refugee requirements and were kept in detention in Melbourne and Christmas Island, and in community detention in Perth.

The end of a ’10-year battle’

Prior to the election, former prime minister Scott Morrison said there was “no protection owed” to the family as claims for protection had been rejected.

Soon after the election, the Labor government intervened in the case, allowing the family to return to Biloela on bridging visas.

It was the first time the youngest daughter Tharnicaa had been granted a visa.

They were welcomed home with a weekend of celebrations in June, including a special ceremony at a multicultural festival, and a birthday celebration in the park for Tharnicaa, her first outside of immigration detention.

Two smiling men stand on either side of a smiling woman and two smiling little girls.
The Nadesalingam family met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June after their return to Queensland.(Twitter: @alboMP)

They also met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on June 15 on the sidelines of a Federal Cabinet meeting in Gladstone.

Ms Fredericks said the immigration uncertainty began when the family came to Australia for the first time, over a decade ago.

“This has been a 10-year battle for Priya and Nades,” she said.

“For the first time, they actually get to plan a future, they actually get to know that the dreams and goals they have for their little family can all come true.

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