This family was almost deported from Australia because their son has autism.

This is the kind of good news, which makes paying attention to politics feel a whole lot less depressing.

After a six-month-long battle, Enamul Kabir and his family have been granted permanent residency in Australia.

Mamamia have covered the plight of this particular family before and there’s a good reason. The family’s original application for a Skilled Residence Visa was rejected because their eight-year-old son – Srijon Kabir – has mild autism.

You didn’t read that wrong.

Because of a bizarre migration law still on the books, when Srijon was diagnosed with mild autism, the government found that his family – including mum Siuly (a Biomedical Engineering researcher) and his dad Enamul (a statistician at the University of Queensland) – were to be deported back to Bangladesh.

The family lodged an appeal with Immigration Minister Scott Morrison last November and a Change.org petition was started by one of Enamul’s UQ colleagues, Chris McDonald.

Chris wrote on Facebook:

I was astounded when I saw the email from Enamul. I couldn’t believe that this was still happening in our country. My friend and former colleague’s family is about to be deported from Australia — the reason: his son has mild autism.

Enamul and Siuly Kabir are caring parents, taxpayers, both have PhDs – one an academic at the University of Queensland, the other a researcher in Biomedical Engineering. But because of archaic migration laws still on the books — when their son was diagnosed with a mild form of autism — the government rejected their application for permanent residency.

The ‘net benefit’ approach as recommended by the Joint Standing Committee Inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability (“Enabling Australia” published in June, 2010) appears to have been completely ignored.

Srijon also shared a plea with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison on Facebook.

Srijon wrote, “Please Mr Morrison, don’t deport my mum and dad from Australia because I have autism. I love Australia it’s our home and my parents love working here. My school really good too. Your’s sincerely Srijon.”

And here’s the good news.

After 70,000 people signed the Change.org petition, the Kabirs have now received confirmation of their permanent residency – and heard that Scott Morrison intervened in their case.

Enamul is understandably relieved, saying, “This is a fantastic day for our family, we’re so relieved.”

“It has been a stressful six-month wait wondering whether our family would be deported because of our son’s disability. Now we can, thankfully, finally move on with our lives.”

“We want to thank Mr Morrison for listening to our plea and intervening, and also the 70,000 people who signed the Change.org petition supporting us.”

Enamul also expressed shock about the clause that meant that because Srijon had autism, the family’s future in Australia might be in jeopardy.

“We were shocked last year to learn that our son Srijon having autism could mean we could get deported,” he said. “Australia is our home, it’s meant to be a country of equal opportunity – and we’re so glad Mr Morrison agrees.”

This is one of those stories that shows making noise about injustices can make a difference and also shows that the vast majority of Australians believe that this country should be about equal opportunity.

Laws and policies just need to catch up with the people of Australia.

Go on, share the good news.