Australia halts deportation of woman, 104

THE Australian government intervened yesterday to prevent a 104-year-old Chinese woman from being deported from Australia, after officials rejected her final appeal for a visa to stay with family here.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said she was overturning an immigration tribunal's decision this week. The minister's move means that Cui Yu Hu can stay as a permanent resident with an aged parent visa, enjoying free health care.

Cui Yu Hu praised Ms Vanstone for the decision: "I wish her a lucky and long life and hope she lives until 100," she said, speaking through an interpreter. "She has a good heart, she will live very long."