Supporters of a Tamil asylum seeker family who had been living in the small Queensland town of Biloela said the fight to stop their deportation would continue.
The Federal Court on Friday rejected their bid to remain in Australia, with a special order made to stay the deportation until 1 February.
Refugee Action Collective spokesperson Kathleen Chapman said while the judge's decision is disappointing, she is focusing on the positives.
Friends and supporters are urging airlines not to transport the Tamil family to Sri Lanka. Source: AAP
"It is a small mercy," she told SBS News. "It gives the legal team some time to look at options to keep them in the country."
Members of Biloela community have been fighting for the family to stay arguing they have integrated and become a part of the local community since the family's arrival in 2012 and 2013.
In March, the bridging visa expired for the wife, Priya, triggering the removal of the entire family - mother, father, and the two Australian-born children - from their home to a Melbourne detention centre.
The Australian government served deportation notices on the family, which they have been fighting in the courts since that time.
Family devastated
Tamil Refugee Council spokesperson Aran Mylvaganam said the legal battle over the last nine months has been hard on the family.
"I spoke to Nades (Nadesalingam) just a few minutes after the decision was read out. Nades was devastated by the news.
"They have been in detention for almost nine months now. It is far too long for two Australian-born kids to be in detention. They're going to spend their first Christmas in detention."
The Tamil family is facing a return to Sri Lanka where they fear they will be mistreated. Source: Supplied
Mr Mylvaganam said supporters would be working hard to find other legal avenues over the Christmas period, but it would not be easy.
"We do need to speak to our legal team. In terms, of any other challenges. We believe that a High Court challenge is possible. We are seeking further legal advice. It is going to be very difficult because of the Christmas break to get hold of barristers.
"We are going to our best. We are going to fight hard to stop the deportation of this family."
He said the prospect of a High Court battle could mean the family, including three-year-old Kopika and one-year-old Tharunicaa, spend two years in detention.
'Uphill battle'
Mr Mylvaganam said the federal government's 2014 policy change on processing asylum seeker cases has made it particularly harder for Tamil asylum seekers to get a fair hearing.
"We always knew it was an uphill battle. The fast-track process has been set to fail asylum seekers. Particularly, Tamil asylum seekers.
"Nine out of the 10 cases are getting rejected through the fast-track process when it comes to Tamil. And this is despite a serious situation for Tamils in Sri Lanka."
The so-called fast-track system was aimed at processing the backlog of 30,000 undetermined asylum seeker applications from people who arrived by boat prior to 2013.
The Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA) would review the applications of asylum seeker boat arrivals between 13 August 2012, and 1 January 2014.
The body replaced the lengthy process undertaken by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Campaign for ministerial intervention continues
Friend and Biloela resident Angela Fredericks said she would be wasting no time in lobbying for intervention from Immigration Minister David Coleman.
"So while I am obviously very disappointed and upset in the verdict, I am very comforted and relieved that they have said that the family is not to be deported within six weeks," she told SBS' Tamil program.
"What that means for us is that we have six weeks to put the pressure on the Minister for Immigration [David Coleman], to put the pressure on MPs right across Australia to say that this family needs to stay in Australia."
Brad Coath, from the group Urban Neighbours of Hope, has stayed in touch with the family over the last nine months, visiting them in detention.
He said the Biloela community stands behind the family.
"This is a family that we're talking about that is just the kind of family that Australia needs. Their community have shown such strong support for them. They want them to be back home in Biloela
"There is no reason not to be. Nades is a respected worker in the meatworks. They want them back.
"The minister has the power to send them back to Biloela and allow them to live in the community in peace and safety. And we would love to see that happen."
Barbara Trauer, from Grandmothers against Detention of Refugee Children, said it was heartbreaking that the young kids will spend Christmas in detention.
"I'm a grandmother, I've got four little granddaughters. And I just feel sorry for these children that they have been locked up for so long, and why they can't just spend Christmas in Queensland where they have got a lot of friends in the community?"
More than 145,000 Australians have signed a petition urging Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to return the family to Biloela.
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