Highlights:
- Dozens of Australians protested in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth calling for parents be considered immediate family members.
- Due to the COVID-19 related travel ban, only the immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident is allowed to enter Australia.
- The petition signed by over 11,000 people appeals to the Federal Government to change the immediate family members' definition.
Source: Supplied by Rajesh Gulrajani
Sydney-based Rajesh Gulrajani told SBS Hindi, "Our parents cannot travel to Australia despite having a valid visa because the Department of Home Affairs does not consider them our immediate family members. Who can be more immediate in the family than our parents."
Due to the COVID-19 related travel ban, only the immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident is allowed to enter Australia. However, parents are not considered as immediate family.
Source: Supplied by Rajesh Gulrajani
Therefore many people are not able to bring their parents to Australia.
Mr Gulrajani wants to bring his mother and mother-in-law to Australia, but the 'Immediate family member' rule does not allow him.
Rajesh Gulrajani (third from right) with his family in India. Source: Supplied by Rajesh Gulrajani
Listen to Rajesh Gulrajani's story in his own words:
LISTEN TO
Australians protest to include parents as immediate family members
SBS Hindi
25/01/202108:27
He says he lost his father and father-in-law last year within the space of a month.
"I could not even travel for the last rites. My wife had to perform two last rites in a month."
"Now my mother and mother-in-law both are in India with no one to take care of them. I want to bring them here as they are my immediate family members. I want to take care of them," said Mr Gulrajani, who launched a petition in the federal parliament of Australia.
The petition signed by over 11,000 people appeals to the Federal Government to change the immediate family members' definition to include parents.
Source: Supplied by Rajesh Gulrajani
Liberal MP Celia Hammond had presented the petition in parliament in November last year requesting the Federal Government include Australian citizens and permanent resident parents as immediate family members.
The petition reads, "We know this pandemic is going to last long and not able to meet or grief or celebrate events together is causing mental and emotional stress.
Protesters at the Parliament House in Adelaide calling for parents be considered immediate family members. Source: Supplied by Manav Jaggi
"The separation is now having an impact on people's emotions and mental health. Like the US, UK, Canada, other countries are allowing parents of citizens to join them in the country and spend time together during this pandemic."
Source: Supplied by Rajesh Gulrajani
The Department of Home Affairs had 90 days to respond, which will be over in the first week of February.
Protesters at the Parliament House in Adelaide calling for parents be considered immediate family members. Source: Supplied by Manav Jaggi
