Irish parents and their Australian son remain hopeful they won't be deported

The Hyde family's petition to stay in Australia has gained over 112,00 signatures

Anthony and Christine Hyde and their 3-year-old Australian-born son are set to be deported back to Ireland on June 18 unless government officials intervene.

Read More: Irish family loses Australian deportation appeal after son’s cystic fibrosis diagnosis

Despite being born in Australia, 3-year-old Darragh's cystic fibrosis diagnosis has been deemed a "financial burden" to the Australian taxpayer, and the family has been denied permanent residency.

The Irish couple had begun their application for permanent Australian residency in 2015, not long before Darragh was born.  While Anthony and Christine satisfied all of their requirements for residency, their newborn son did not due to his cystic fibrosis.

Nine News Australia reports: "A child born in Australia does not automatically become a citizen unless their parents are already citizens. Under Australian immigration rules, children born in Australia are not eligible to apply for citizenship until they are 10 years old."

In May, Tony, a bus driver, and Christine, an elementary school teacher, lost their deportation appeal which means their visas will expire on June 18. A tribunal has referred the matter back to the Australian Minister of Home Affairs Peter Dutton, who can exercise discretion on the case.

On May 22, Christine wrote on the family's petition site: "Because our visa application has been refused we now only have until the 18th June for the Minister to intervene. We are waiting on clarification on the exact date as to when our bridging visa will end."

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The Hyde family hopes they'll be able to stay in Australia (Christine Hyde /Change.org)

"The only home our son knows"

Darragh now takes the drug Kalydeco for his cystic fibrosis which costs $300,000 per patient per year - through Australian healthcare, the Hydes only pay $40 a month for the prescription drug.

“Being on that drug for Darragh is almost reversing the impact of CF for him. It means he will go on to live a normal life,” Christine told Yahoo News Australia.

“I get that’s why it’s expensive. But I also think we do a fair job of giving back." Christine, who received her Master's Degree in Australia and is the acting Assistant Principal at a local elementary school, regularly volunteers within the family's adopted community. 

“We’re not a family who sponge off people. My son will go on to do work, he’s not going to stay home, I can tell you that. I believe we have good ethics.”

Christine insists on the family's petition that Darragh "has been doing extremely well" and that they have received "positive letters from his doctors and specialists." She adds: "Australia is the only home our son knows."

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Darragh Hyde has never been outside of Australia (Christine Hyde / Change.org)

Read More: Irish family facing deportation from Australia after son diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis

Still hopeful

The online petition launched by Christine Hyde has gained nearly 113,000 signatures as of Monday morning.

The Hyde family has since received the support of Premier Daniel Andrews, who has called upon the Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton to show "some compassion and some common sense" on the matter:

Premier Daniel Andrews has called on Peter Dutton, to show some compassion, and let the Hyde family stay in Australia. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/pEQ8coaJLN

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 26, 2019

On June 9, Christine wrote on the petition’s website: “We are still waiting for a decision of the department of immigration. This is for our case to be considered by the minister. Please keeping sharing. Thank you so much !!!”

Read More: Irish E3 visa bill reintroduced to Congress by Richard Neal

7News Australia spoke with the Hydes about their situation: