Too thin to live in Australia
Immigration authorities have refused to allow a British woman to join her husband in Australia, simply because they claim she's too thin. Her family is outraged.
At 38 kilos British-born Helen Evans has been told she's too thin to live in Australia.
"They want me to put on 20 kilos or they will deport me," Helen said.
She says it's outrageous and she's lost for words.
Helen's Australian-born husband Steve was outraged when they received a letter telling them Helen's residency had been refused.
"My wife is being persecuted because she's too thin," Steve said.
"Absolutely disgusted, especially after recent reports that Australia is the second-fattest country in the world - how can they turn around and say someone is too thin?"
Helen moved to Australia two years ago after the birth of her son Nathan to start a new life but after months of wrangling, immigration health authorities say her weight-for-height is too low.
But Helen says she's always been small - her mum was the same.
"Helen's always been very fit and healthy," Steve said. "She's never had an eating disorder, she eats all day long."
"She's never had any problems apart from the fact she has a small frame, end of story."
Helen has a body mass indicator (BMI) of 14.5. According to Australian standards it should be 20.
Solicitor Christopher Levington specialises in immigration disputes.
"She's no burden to anyone," he said. "If anything she will live longer than the rest of us."
"She's married to an Australian citizen so she can get a health waiver in this case. If you have HIV and you are married to an Australian citizen you can get a health waiver."
"It seems to me this lady's problem is small beer," Mr Levington said.
Helen and Steve claim the department's own doctor has already given her the all clear.
"During the medical examination the doctor said to Helen 'you seem to be skinny'," Steve said. "We explained Helen's genetic make up and the doctor asked if she could do more examination."
"We said OK and after that the doctor said 'everything's OK, signed the paperwork and that's when we left."
But a month later Helen was told her residency was refused unless she consented to seeing another doctor and undergoing further tests. As a believer in alternative medicine, Helen doesn't see why she should.
"This is me, this is the way nature intended me to be," Helen said. "It's the way I am."
"More than anything I struggle to put on weight and that's another problem."
If the department refuses Helen entry she says she'll have to leave her husband and two-year-old and go back to the UK.
In a statement immigration minister Amanda Vanstone says while Helen Evans has undergone some checks, she's refusing to see a specialist physician and has refused to provide a report from her own treating physician. As a consequence the minister says Helen has been refused a visa.
Helen says the family can't afford to lodge an appeal against the department's decision and if the department orders her to leave they can't afford to pay for the whole family to go with her.
"It's just not fair," Steve said. "I mean Australia gives everyone a fair go - what's fair about me having to wave goodbye and explain to a two-year-old [that] mummy can't be with him because she's too thin?"
