Community members in Hobart have gathered to celebrate the birthday of Devarshi Deka. The Indian student who was left a paraplegic after he was allegedly assaulted on Hobart's waterfront. While it’s a happy day for Dev, his family, and friends, they're still no closer to securing a future in Australia for Dev, with no word from the immigration minister on their plea for residency.
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00:00Today is Debashi Decker's 33rd birthday and while there's been an outpouring of community
00:11support for him and his family, his future remains uncertain.
00:15So if we were to get him discharged, we have no place to keep him right now.
00:19He has nowhere to go.
00:21An alleged assault in Hobart last year left Dave in a medically induced coma.
00:26He's now a paraplegic.
00:28A crowdfunder to support Dave and his family has now raised $93,000.
00:33But without permanent residency, Dave will have to return to India, where his family
00:38says he can't access the care he needs.
00:41I'm concerned for his well-being if he does go back to India because of the inadequate
00:46rehabilitation facilities.
00:49The Multicultural Council has started a petition calling on the Premier to ask his federal
00:54counterparts for help.
00:56It will be tabled in Parliament next week.
00:58And it's incumbent on us as a community and for the Minister, Minister Giles, to support
01:06Dave and this request.
01:09The Premier says the state government has reached out to Mr Decker's family and says
01:14it's important that the federal government work with them during this difficult time.
01:19When asked, the federal government said they are unable to comment on individual cases.
01:24This is one of the major reasons why he doesn't want to leave, because he knows people here
01:27love him and they will keep loving him until he's able to stay here.
01:33A community now united in their will to see Dave live the best life he can.