Exclusive: A British couple that feared they would be deported in a matter of days have been granted a last-minute right to stay in Australia.
They had previously been rejected as Mathers was deemed an ‘economic burden’ to Australia due to her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.
Now they’ve received the news they’ve spent the last five years fighting for: O’Leary and Mathers have been granted permanent residency.
“This morning, we received the life-changing news we’ve been hoping for – our visa has been granted,” they said in a statement.
“This marks the end of a five-year-long, emotional road – and the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
“We’re so grateful that our contributions have been recognised, and that we can finally move forward with clarity and security.”
The couple from Sydney received promising news on Thursday when their local MP, Allegra Spender, informed them of the update. She communicated that Burke had made a last-minute decision to grant their visas, as conveyed to her.
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Mathers and O’Leary had previously filed a joint application for permanent residency but were rejected in 2022 due to Mathers’ MS diagnosis.
The marketing project manager and DJ, who was diagnosed at the end of 2020, had been deemed an economic burden to Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs had initially concluded that Mathers surpassed the “significant cost threshold.” This calculation assesses the anticipated cost of care for an individual over 10 years, and a sum exceeding $86,000 could lead to deportation.
Mathers and O’Leary took the issue to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in 2023 and didn’t receive a response until May 2025.
Despite their unsuccessful appeal, their situation was escalated to Burke, who holds the authority to intervene personally and award them permanent residency.
On Thursday morning, Mathers and O’Leary learned he had done just that.
“There are so many things we’ve put on hold – just in case we had to leave,” they said.
“But now, with this door wide open, we feel more focused and excited than ever to build our future in the country we love.”
They are looking forward to ”new beginnings, big dreams, and a bright future ahead”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs told 9news that the department cannot comment on individual cases.
“All non-citizens who wish to enter or remain in Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) and Migration Regulations 1994, including identity, health, security and character requirements,” the spokesperson added.
