[8] Therefore the Australian government claimed that Nades was not of concern to Sri Lankan authorities;[7][9] this has been accepted in a number of subsequent reviews and court proceedings.
Priya left Sri Lanka in 2001 and went to Tamil Nadu, India, claiming she was being targeted due to her brother's supposed links to the LTTE.
[18] The Immigration Assessment Authority affirmed the ministerial delegate's decisions regarding the asylum claims, noting that Priya had been able to travel lawfully without issue from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu, India in 2001.
[15] The Immigration Assessment Authority stated that years had passed since the civil war and "the risk profile of persons of adverse interest had changed".
The Sri Lankan government was now inquiring after a different category of persons in the post-war and reconciliation period, described as "those with a significant role in post-conflict Tamil separatism".
[26] While in detention in Melbourne, supporters of the family claimed that the couple and their children had been ill-treated and denied basic nutrition and health care.
[31] An attempt to deport the couple, and their Australian-born children, on 29 August 2019 was prevented by an injunction lodged by the solicitors while the plane taking the family to Sri Lanka was in mid-air.
[33] On 19 September 2019, the Federal Court ruled that the younger daughter (and hence the family) should remain in Australia until the case goes to a final hearing at a date to be determined.
[34] On 17 April 2020, the Federal Court ruled that Immigration Minister David Coleman had taken a procedural step to consider using ministerial powers to allow the younger daughter to apply for a visa, which now needs to be finalised.
[37] On 21 October 2019, it was revealed in Senate estimates that the Australian government had spent approximately $30 million re-opening Christmas Island Detention Center and filling it with more than 100 staff, while the only detainees were the four members of the Murugappan family.
[38] Over the weekend of 18–19 July 2020, Priya was flown from Christmas Island to Perth for medical treatment for severe abdominal pain and vomiting.
[45] On 22 January 2022, Federal Circuit Court allowed three of the family members to be able to reapply for bridging visas, rendering the earlier order made by Minister Hawke invalid.
[48] Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles said he has decided to grant the visas after carefully considering their “complex and specific circumstances”.
[52] Former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce also spoke in support, noting that the Biloela community "seem to be pretty enthused about keeping this family there ...
[54][55] This was despite the fact that, unlike the United States, Australia does not have birthright citizenship, so the term "anchor baby" is not relevant to Australian law.