Danny Hodgson: Father of one-punch victim granted visa to stay in Australia permanently

Peter Hodgson, the father of Perth one-punch victim Danny Hodgson, has been granted a visa to stay in Australia permanently with his son. The West Australian can reveal Mr Hodgson was told by government officials on Monday he could stay in Australia indefinitely. It comes after The West first revealed Mr Hodgson faced an uphill battle to remain in the country to help care for his son, who was left fighting for life after an unprovoked one-punch attack outside Perth train station in September 2021. In a statement given to The West on Monday, Mr Hodgson confirmed he’d now been granted a visa to stay in Australia indefinitely after an intervention was launched by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Mr Hodgson said he’d been granted a Former Resident (subclass 151) Visa. “I would like to thank the West Australian media for showcasing my plight and helping to keep the pressure on the Federal Government so that I can live here in Perth,” an elated Mr Hodgson said. “Hearing this news has been an incredible boost, not only for me but for Danny and Jessica too. “It finally feels like something has gone our way and we can start to make solid plans for a future together.” Mr Hodgson said he was also thankful for the work WA’s Attorney General John Quigley has also put into the case. “The people of Western Australia have been behind us all the way throughout Danny’s journey, and we are enormously grateful for the ongoing messages of community support, love and prayers,” he said. “Danny still faces enormous challenges but knowing that I can continue to be here by his side every day gives us renewed faith in being able to climb those mountains together.” Mr Hodgson told The West Australian last month how his attempts to get permanent residency on compassionate grounds had so far “fallen on deaf ears”. “If I wasn’t here with Danny, I don’t know what (Danny’s girlfriend) Jess and Danny’s situation would be, but it would be disastrous,” he said at the time. “I need to be with him and he needs me. I feel like we are clutching at straws.”