Hawkesbury musician to be reunited with family after being separated by border closure

Mr Ortega, a Cuban-born Swedish citizen, came to Australia in October 2018 with his wife Yahima who is studying her Masters in Business, and their two little girls, Ashanty and Ashely.

He travelled overseas in January to fulfill some work contracts in Sweden and Norway, and - as the main income-earner for the family, and not realising how long the borders would remain closed - decided to complete his work before returning home.

Like many Australian residents, citizens and visa-holders stuck overseas, he didn't realise the borders would remain closed for as long as they have, and that he would not be granted permission to re-enter the country for months.

"I tried to return at the end of March applying for a compassionate entry since I have a subclass 500 student visa and I showed the immigration department all the documents and requirements they asked for and they denied entry about 10-12 times," Mr Ortega told the Gazette.

On Saturday, August 22, after five months of trying, and spreading the word of his plight via Australian media, he was granted permission to come back to Australia and be reunited with his family.

"My message to the government would be that: I understand and accept that they have to protect the nation from a pandemic but they should understand that protecting is not meant to act cruelly separating families and in special cases children, they should be a little more flexible and sensitive to this situation," he said.

Now, Mr Ortega awaits a spot on a plane back to Australia, which is capped at 50 people per day reentering the country.

When he returns, he will continue his work as a musician, composer and music teacher, and once again take-up his project recording climate change-themed songs with Hawkesbury musicians.

One of the songs, My Burning Country, teams modern Cuban music infused with Aboriginal music written by Mr Ortega, with lyrics written by creative partner Yvonne Veivers, about last summer's Hawkesbury bushfires.

Ms Veivers said: "The song depicts the anguish, anger and grief that we all felt in January."

Macquarie MP Susan Templeman assisted Mr Ortega in seeking an exemption to return to Australia.

"The family separations caused by COVID are distressing for many people and it's completely understandable that they are desperate to get home," Ms Templeman said, adding she had helped other families in similar situations, many of whom had been denied entry.

"Keep in mind you have Australian citizens stuck overseas too, due to the lack of flights and caps on numbers allowed to arrive, under rules agreed by the Prime Minister and Premiers, with a view to reducing new cases of COVID.

"The State and Federal Governments agreed to keep the limits on until October, but I would hope that the current arrangements are constantly reviewed in light of how effective the quarantine regime on arrival in Australia is and what its capacity is."

She said the hotels industry had empty rooms that could house people quarantining, but pointed-out the recent "disturbing reports of the conditions people are experiencing in even five star hotels", adding "these decisions have to be carefully weighed up, and the expert health advice should be the guide."