WIMMERA residents have banded together to support Horsham doctor Mihaela Guguila with almost 600 people signing a petition to keep her in the country.
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The Department of Immigration and Citizenship denied the qualified surgeon, general practitioner and skin cancer specialist, 53, permanent residency because she is too old.
Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor announced last month that he was reviewing the age restrictions that barred Dr Guguila from being granted permanent residency.
She has also sought the support of Member for Mallee John Forrest and Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty.
The program compared her case with that of Suhail Durani, who faced deportation after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman during an examination at Royal Perth Hospital.
Durani’s visa was revoked but an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturned the decision.
He has maintained his innocence despite the conviction.
Dr Guguila said she hoped the show would boost her fight to stay in Australia.
“I think it was a good show for me,” she said.
“I don’t know the other doctor or whether he is guilty but in regard to my own story I think it was good.
“I think commonsense, which is the preferred word people are using, will prevail but I don’t know when.”
