Every day you see a message or an article, which basically says all Australian borders are closed forever. And it just drains you emotionally and mentally.
He pointed to last weeks social media post by Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying he hadnt been able to see his family on his birthday, two days after the budget.
He was not able to see his daughters and wife for a day and that affected him. But we as a family, we havent seen them for the last 18 months, Mr Palanivel said.
If the situation doesnt change soon, his family will consider whether theyre better off packing up their lives and leaving Australia.
Ms Dmytriyevas mother looked after her son Victor during 2019 at their Sydney home but now hasnt seen him for more than 14 months. Shes had five travel applications rejected.
She had been living with us for more than a year, and she left for a few weeks in March 2020 [to go to Ukraine]. And she never returned, Ms Dmytriyeva said.
My child … cannot even recognise her on the video call… He just says, switch the phone off, I dont know this lady but he spent his first year of life with her.
Both insist they and others who have shared their stories are not asking for open slather on travel or for preferential treatment, just for family to be treated as such.
Theyre frustrated and annoyed by stories of film stars, sports figures and business people arriving with family in tow.
They want the government to lay out clear directions on when Australians can expect the international borders to open again as well. State and business leaders have also called for a clear timeline on reopening.
The federal budget included an assumption the country would reopen in mid-2022 but Mr Morrison has made it clear this is not government policy. The latest Resolve Political Monitor survey found voters overwhelmingly backed the Prime Minister in keeping borders closed.
We know that there should be safety measures but we need a roadmap out of this, Ms Dmytriyeva said.
We just need to have something like a set of rules to comply with. Because at the moment, there is no set of rules.
Start your day informed
Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Heralds newsletter here, The Ages here, Brisbane Timeshere, and WAtodays here.