“Some have accidentally overstayed. Some are in the system waiting for decisions. And some have deliberately played the system.”

“The main thing is what you say. You just have to tell them, ‘I am gay and it is my reality.’ There is no other way.”

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has pledged to deport up to 65,000 visa overstayers as part of a sweeping overhaul of Australia’s immigration system, warning that student and asylum pathways are being “exploited”.

Kingra, an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a high-profile attack on a residence linked to Punjabi singer AP Dhillon, during which gunshots were fired and vehicles were set alight.

Letters seen by media outlets warn some applicants that they “must leave Canada as soon as possible” if found ineligible, or risk facing a deportation order.

At the centre of the petition is the case of an allied health worker who has lived in Australia since 2018 and worked as a physiotherapist since 2019, including in regional areas with workforce shortages.

25-year-old Harshpreet Singh is due to be sentenced on 9 July. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, along with a possible term of supervised release and a substantial fine.

Those already in Australia, in transit, or who are spouses, dependent children, or parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents are exempt.

Does anyone really think a Pacific country would be better off by not taking part in Australia’s PALM or PEV or New Zealand’s RSE and PAC/SQ?

The spokesperson, who requested anonymity, described the situation as unprecedented in their two decades of diplomatic service and said efforts were under way to have the individuals identified and returned to India.