November 08, 2008 06:00pm
The woman, who works at Joondalup Hospital and is described by fellow staff as “one of the hospital’s best” , has waged a legal battle with the Federal Government since 2002.
Her application for permanent residency was rejected that year because the Government viewed her child as needing health or community services that would result in a “significant cost to the Australian community”.
After unsuccessful appeals and court hearings, the family has applied to Immigration Minister Chris Evans to intervene.
But a spokesman for Senator Evans could not say if this would happen - even though The Sunday Times understands the mother has only weeks left.
The woman did not wish to be named or interviewed, fearing retribution by the Government.
But one outraged supporter said: “This country recruited her to come here and work due to an acute shortage of midwives. She is one of the best nurses in the unit, she has contributed widely to the hospital and the general public.
“(She has) wasted thousands of dollars on court cases to try to overturn the Government’s stupidity.”
Family support group Down Syndrome WA labelled the Government’s stance “discriminatory and disgraceful”, calling on Senator Evans to grant the family residency.
Group spokeswoman Jan Gothard said the Immigration Department should examine cases individually, rather than just assume those with Down syndrome would be a burden, when many led independent lives.
Dr Gothard said the WA case and another recently - where German doctor Bernhard Moeller was to leave the Victorian town of Horsham after the department classified his 13-year-old Down syndrome son a burden on taxpayers - were the “tip of the iceberg”.
As well as those already in Australia, many potential skilled migrants were also being denied entry for the same reason.
“Nobody, whether they’ve got Down syndrome or not, can guarantee they’re not going to be a cost to the system,” Dr Gothard said.
“Nobody can guarantee they’re not going to get lung cancer, or liver disease, or need a heart transplant.
“Is there not a potential cost for somebody who smokes all their life? Is there not a potential cost for someone who’s overweight?”
She said the Disability Discrimination Act protected people with disabilities living in Australia, but not during migration.
Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton called on the Rudd Government to show “compassion” and allow the WA family to have permanent residency.
“In this country we’re desperate for good health professionals,” he said. “It would be a tragedy to lose the skill and expertise that this person has brought to the local community.”