When I was at the RTA and I was on a regional placement (in graduate program) every 4 weeks I could claim a trip back to my home base. Under special negotiation I got my base transferred from sydney to Orange, where my family is. Is/was a long standing RTA policy that applied to secondments and graduate placements (i.e. was rarely invoked) etc. However, it was maybe $100 train ticket, not $2000 air fare.
I personally do not trust any group/religion who feel that because I do not believe what they believe I should therefore be vanquished. Don't want to leave family? Either don't come here (or anywhere else for that matter), or try to get them here on family visa if you yourself are a genuine refugee.