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Tasmania will host two AFL games on the same weekend for the first time in round 14 after the league moved more fixtures away from Melbourne amid ongoing COVID-19 issues.

North Melbourne will host Brisbane at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Saturday, with Hawthorn to play Essendon at Launceston's UTAS Stadium on Sunday.

Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein described the decision as "a win for Tassie football fans" - but the switch means Melbourne will not host an AFL match for a third straight week.

It comes after the Victorian government ruled matches could go ahead in the state without crowds this week.

Friday night's blockbuster clash between premiership contenders Geelong and the Western Bulldogs will be played in front of empty stands at GMHBA Stadium.

"While it is disappointing we are unable to host games in front of crowds in Victoria during round 14, we hope the situation continues to trend favourably so we can welcome back members and supporters as soon as possible," AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld said.

"The decision to relocate two games to Hobart and Launceston was made in close consultation with each respective home team and the Tasmanian Government, having regard to the broader connection each home club has in Tasmania and to allow for members and supporters in Tasmania to attend the games."

Melbourne-based teams North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Essendon have agreed strict travel arrangements and other protocols with the Tasmanian government.

They will take charter flights in and out of Tasmania on their respective match days.

There are no additional protocols in place for Brisbane because they are travelling from Queensland.

Geelong had a big say in the decision not to move the Western Bulldogs clash away from their home ground.

The match of the round pits third against second in a highly anticipated contest that would ordinarily have attracted a large crowd.

"The decision to continue to play this match at GMHBA Stadium was made in consultation with the home team and was in line with their preference not to move the game," Auld said.

"We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Victoria and work with the Victorian Government and other state and territory governments, with the fixture remaining a week-to-week proposition for now."

© AAP 2021

A Tamil family being held in immigration detention will soon be reunited in Perth while the youngest child receives medical treatment.

The federal government is considering what to do with the Murugappan family as it faces mounting pressure to let them stay in Australia.

The family's plight is back in the spotlight after four-year-old Tharnicaa was flown from Christmas Island to the mainland for medical treatment.

Tharnicaa's mother Priya is with her at Perth Children's Hospital but her father and older sister are still on Christmas Island.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said work was underway to bring Nades and Kopika, 6, to Perth.

"I understand the health authorities in WA also make these considerations as to whether the whole family gets reunited," he told reporters.

"But as I understand, there was work being done towards that."

Mr Murugappan and Kopika were still on Christmas Island as of Monday afternoon.

It is unclear whether they will be flown to Perth on a commercial flight or a government chartered plane.

The head of the Western Australian health department wrote to the Department of Home Affairs last week advising the Murugappan family be reunited in Perth.

It was not a plea for compassion but based on clinical advice of the Tharnicaa's treating doctors that she must be with family.

Her treatment for pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, could take up to eight weeks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was considering its options and would take advice from medical experts at the Department of Home Affairs.

Pressure is mounting on Mr Morrison to let the family stay in Australia, with politicians from across the spectrum calling for them to be allowed to return to their adopted home of Biloela in Queensland.

He has signalled the government could finally back away from its hardline stance and allow the family to stay in Australia, at least on a temporary basis.

"There are options that are being considered that are consistent with both health advice and the humanitarian need and the government's policy," Mr Morrison said.

However, the prime minister said permanent resettlement was out of the question.

"That wouldn't be government policy for a pathway to permanent settlement - that is not the government's policy."

With the decision pending, nine health organisations representing tens of thousands of medical professionals across Australia have signed an open letter calling for the family's release.

Paediatrician Jacqueline Small from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians said the children must be allowed to develop and grow in the community.

"We feel very strongly keeping these children in held detention, particularly offshore detention, represents an extreme and unacceptable risk to the children's health, development and mental wellbeing," she told ABC radio.

"Given both children were in held detention from their toddlerhood, the risks are even higher."

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could allow the family to stay in Australia by granting visas not reserved for refugees, such as skilled migrant or work permits.

Mr McCormack said the minister would make an announcement later this week.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has supported calls for the family to stay in Australia for more than two years.

"Tharnicaa and Kopika were born in Australia," he told Network Seven.

"Now, maybe if their names were Jane and Sally and they were playing in their local netball side, we'd think twice about sending them back to another country which they're not from."

Mr Joyce also argued Mr and Mrs Murugappan had jobs and were valued members of their local community.

"In regional Australia, we need people who have jobs. These people should be staying here."

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument showing the family compassion and exercising discretion would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade.

"This is about a family who are here, this is not a threat to our national sovereignty," he said.

© AAP 2021

The fate of a Tamil family being held in immigration detention on Christmas Island will be decided within days.

The Murugappan family have been detained for almost three years as they fight deportation to Sri Lanka.

Their plight is back in the spotlight after the youngest daughter, Tharnicaa, was evacuated to Perth for medical treatment.

The four-year-old needs months of specialist treatment for pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, and the West Australian health department has advised the family be reunited in Perth.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was considering its options and would take advice from medical experts at the Department of Home Affairs.

"Those issues are always carefully considered in all of these sensitive cases and indeed will be on this occasion," Mr Morrison said.

Pressure is mounting on the prime minister to let the family stay in Australia, with politicians from across the spectrum calling for them to be allowed to return to their adopted home of Biloela in central Queensland.

Mr Morrison has signalled his government could finally back away from its hardline stance and allow the family to stay in Australia, at least on a temporary basis.

"There are options that are being considered that are consistent with both health advice and the humanitarian need and the government's policy," he said.

However, the prime minister said permanent resettlement was out of the question.

"That wouldn't be government policy for a pathway to permanent settlement - that is not the government's policy."

With the decision pending, nine health organisations representing tens of thousands of medical professionals across Australia have signed an open letter calling for the family's release.

Paediatrician Jacqueline Small from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians said the children must be allowed to develop and grow in the community.

"We feel very strongly keeping these children in held detention, particularly offshore detention, represents an extreme and unacceptable risk to the children's health, development and mental wellbeing," she told ABC radio.

"Given both children were in held detention from their toddlerhood, the risks are even higher."

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could allow the family to stay in Australia by granting visas not reserved for refugees, such as skilled migrant or work permits.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Mr Hawke would make an announcement this week.

Priya and Nades Murugappan met after fleeing Sri Lanka's civil war by boat in 2012 and 2013.

Tharnicaa and her older sister Kopika were both born in Australia after the couple established themselves in Biloela.

Their deportation from Australia is being fought in the courts.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has supported calls for the family to stay in Australia for more than two years.

"Tharnicaa and Kopika were born in Australia," he told Network Seven.

"Now, maybe if their names were Jane and Sally and they were playing in their local netball side, we'd think twice about sending them back to another country which they're not from."

Mr Joyce also argued Mr and Mrs Murugappan had jobs and were valued members of their local community.

"In regional Australia, we need people who have jobs. These people should be staying here."

Labor leader Anthony Albanese rejected the argument showing the family compassion and exercising discretion would somehow restart the people-smuggling trade.

"This is about a family who are here, this is not a threat to our national sovereignty," he said.

"This will not restart the people-smuggling trade any more than when ministers have intervened for nannies and for people who have connections with the Liberal and National parties. That didn't start the trade either."

© AAP 2021