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An Italian-born pastry chef and father of three is facing deportation from Australia after a visa technicality left him without legal standing — despite 16 years of contributions to his community and a thriving local business.

A Christian father of three from Adelaide has only a few weeks to win an appeal to stay in Australia.

Italian-born Luca Bonavoglia is facing deportation because his visa status changed after he opened Dolceria, an Italian-style pastry business.

Migration expert Barrister Abby Hamdan told The Advertiser that Bonavoglia’s stay in Australia was grounded by the sponsorship of his previous employer.

Going from employee to business owner moved Bonavoglia outside of that umbrella.

It’s a visa quirk that’s causing distress to both his family, the community and Dolceria’s employees.

Bonavoglia, 45, has been in Australia for 16 years.

Recalling costs, a Change.org petition said the pastry chef had “invested approximately 200,000 dollars to secure his future.”

That investment, The Advertiser stated, “includes the price of lawyers, English lessons, and visa applications.”

The Community Rallies Behind the Bonavoglias

Speaking up for the Bonavoglias, Pastor Tim Kreis of LifeHouse Church said they are all “hardworking, committed, and love their community.”

This is “everything Australians want to have in their country,” he protested.

The “Bonavoglias have a business employing people right now. They’ve been paying taxes.”

“If anyone’s paid their share, it’s them,” The Advertiser quoted Kreis as saying.

A Change.org petition shows that 20,000-plus Australians agree.

According to Change.com’s analytics, a whopping 14,000 people signed the request the day this article was written.

Media and Public Pressure Mounts on Minister Burke

The public request is directly aimed at Labor’s notoriously pro-Islamic and Hindu Nationalist mass immigration Minister, Tony Burke.

Australians are being asked to call upon the Home Affairs Office chief to intervene.

“Luca has done everything asked of him. He has worked hard and paid taxes,” the petition reads.

“Now, after all of that, he has been told to leave by April 21. This is not just policy — this is a real family facing separation.

“Australia stands for fairness, compassion, and giving people a fair go. Deporting a man who has given so much to this country goes against those values.

“We cannot let this happen quietly. We urgently call on the Minister to stop Luca Bonavoglia’s deportation and allow him to remain in Australia with his family.”

The Change.org request to Tony Burke on Bonavoglia’s behalf can be read in full and signed here.

Impending Injustice

Sydney’s 2GB were less diplomatic. They called on Burke to ditch the double standards and stop Bonavoglia’s deportation.

Ben Fordham, reading from a letter he received, said the circumstances come down to an oversight on the father of three’s visa application.

‘Yes, immigration is ridiculous at the moment,” the letter asserted, “but rest assured it’s not from Italian migrants. We helped build this country, but our skills are no longer required or valued.”

Adding his own thoughts, Fordham said, the “disgusting reality is if Bonavoglia was a hardened criminal, he’d have taxpayer-funded lawyers fighting to keep him here.”

“And if his wife had married an Islamic State fighter, we’d be handing her a passport!”

Throwing Burke a rhetorical broadside, Fordham hit home, saying,

Why is a hard-working family, with a unique skillset the community loves, being kicked out, while “other deplorables are being welcomed back?”

Talking with South Australian radio on 25 March, Bonavoglia said Federal Labor MP Steve Georganas had contacted them to say he was trying to help.

He added that his appeal has been going on for the past six years.

Because of the non-permanent status, Bonavoglia has had trouble getting a loan, insurance and making a way to support his family.

This is the reason why his first two children were born in Italy.

“It was much cheaper to go back to Italy and have a baby.”

“I tried to do my best to support this country because this country is fantastic.”

“After all this time, I think I deserve a little bit of help,” Bonavoglia pleaded.

He then thanked those who were helping, saying he felt the love, even though he felt sore, adding, “That’s what we need in this world, especially now.”