The family of an Indian student who suffered permanent disabilities following an alleged assault in Hobart are fighting for him to stay in Australia.
Devarshi Deka, 32, moved to Australia to pursue his dream of studying accounting at the University of Tasmania.
After a night out in Salamanca last November, he was allegedly attacked, sustaining brain damage that left him quadriplegic and with the loss of sight in one eye.
The Greens and the Multicultural Council of Tasmania have launched a petition, calling on the Premier to lobby Federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to grant Deka permanent residency.
“There is a place in Tasmania for Dave,” Greens MP Helen Burnet said.
“Permanent residency is something that is required if he is going to obtain the support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and rehabilitative services.”
Deka’s father Kula Depa said his son has required round-the-clock care for several months since the incident and will continue to need specialist care moving forward.
“He’s a paraplegic person and for the region, I am now helpless,” Depa said.
“At this moment it is very difficult for me to save him.”
“So I request all of you, you press kindly to the Government of Tasmania so that the government comes forward to save him.”
“Help me so that I can relieve him.”
The Multicultural Council’s Aimen Jafri urged Tasmanians to “please come forward and support” the family.
“If a father is standing in front of the entire state, the entire country, asking the people to save his child, I think that is enough to say to sign the petition.”
The state government has said there is no room for racism in Tasmania and that it is crucial for the federal government to work with the family during this difficult time.
Previous GoFundMe efforts to fly Deka’s family to Tasmania have raised close to $90,000, as the family cannot financially support him and relies solely on Deka’s brother, a teacher.
The e-petition will be available to sign until Parliament resumes in the second week of June.
A 24-year-old Lenah Valley man has been charged over the alleged assault and is expected to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in June.
