A Tamil family who have been detained on Christmas Island whilst they fight deportation were unaware that the Australian territory will be used to quarantine Wuhan evacuees.
Known as the Bileola family after the Queensland town where they had built a life, Priya, Nadesalingam and their children, Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, were sent to Christmas Island in August after the federal court granted an injunction to halt their deportation.
They were the sole inhabitants of the island’s detention centre, which was controversially re-opened by the Australian government last March and has so far cost taxpayers $26.8m.
Media reports said the family had been in the dark about the announcement that the island would be used as a quarantine area until she contacted them.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said those evacuated to the island would be kept away from the Tamil family and that common areas in the detention centre on the island will not be used.
Kopika and her younger sister Tharunicaa were born in Biloela in central Queensland, however the government has rejected claims for refugee status made on behalf of Kopika and her parents. They fear persecution if they are deported because of links to the banned militant group known as the Tamil Tigers. Their case, which will focus on a visa for Tharunicaa, will be heard in the Federal Court later this month.
