Visas approved for dying man's family

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has confirmed visas for the family of a dying student have now been approved.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says visas for the family of a dying student have been approved. (AAP)

Visas for the family of a dying Pakistani student in Australia have been approved.

Hassan Asif, a 25-year-old Pakistani man who came to Australia on a student visa, has been told he has just weeks to live.

His mother and brother were initially refused visas to visit him.

"I'd asked the post in Islamabad to have a look at the case, to ask for additional information. That's happened and the visas have been approved," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News on Wednesday, less than half an hour after facing the media on the matter.

"I'm hopeful that they can arrive in Australia soon and spend some time with their terminally ill son and brother.

"I think that's what most Australians would expect."

Earlier Mr Dutton said it was the "right decision" to initially refuse the visas based on the information that was provided.

"I think with further information and a subsequent application I think (it) can be dealt with fairly quickly," he told reporters in Brisbane.

He said the "decision-maker" had to weigh up whether or not somebody coming to Australia was likely to make a claim for protection or stay at a cost to the taxpayer.

Labor had called on Mr Dutton to overturn the visa decision, with immigration spokesman Richard Marles describing it as "disgraceful and heartless".


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Visas approved for dying man's family | SBS News