Australian senator steps into help Sri Lankan visa holder get residency

A West Australian One Nation senator has distanced himself from one of his party's main policy platforms by stepping in to assist a 457-visa holder secure permanent residency, Australiaś ABC News repoted.

Sri Lankan man Edwin Asariyas, has been working as an electrician in Kalgoorlie in WA's Goldfields since 2011.

Last month the 57-year-old's application to stay in the country was rejected.

Senator Peter Georgiou intervened, arranging a meeting with the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Alex Hawke, and Mr Asariyas was yesterday granted permanent residence.

The move is out of step with his party's stance that Australians should be prioritised over foreign workers when it comes to local employment.

But Senator Georgiou, a sparky himself, said this was a special case.

"While I support jobs for locals first and foremost, I think this particular case was special, being in a regional city and given the fact that Mr Asariyas had spent the past six years of his life in WA. I knew the Government needed to take a closer look."

Mr Georgiou acknowledged that his stance differed from his party's policy but said he ran the issue past his colleagues before intervening.

"I did run it past the party first and we all agreed that this should be looked at," Mr Georgiou said.

"All our senators have our own opinions on certain things; everything is discussed and everything is considered."

The move has been cautiously welcomed by the president of the Ethnic Communities Council Ramdas Sankaran, who said he was surprised to find himself supporting a One Nation senator.