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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

Barnaby Joyce apologised to Peter Dutton for breaking ranks over the Biloela family

The Murugappan family.
The Murugappan family was granted permanent residency in August 2022. Barnaby Joyce appears to have blindsided Peter Dutton with his support for the family to stay in Australia. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Barnaby Joyce appears to have blindsided Peter Dutton with his support for the Murugappan family to stay in Australia, linking his position to his pro-life stance, a newly-released letter reveals.

Joyce’s letter to Dutton in September 2019 includes both an apology to the then home affairs minister for not giving him more notice and an explanation he believes the family’s children should be able to stay because “a child has rights before they are born and after”.

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