Mr Panebianco said that his wife and children have had their spirit broken by locals’ anger towards them and they want to move to a place where they can find peace. 

“I would like to thank the Glen Innes Examiner for the front page story that has brought to light the treatment of a small ill-informed group that have made it their business to get involved in other people's business,” he said.

“I want to thank the people that have contacted me offering their support but unfortunately after five years living in this town it has finally broken my family's spirit and we feel that there must be a better place for us to find harmony.

“We know that we want to live with people that are non-judgemental, tolerant and accepting of others, my wife wants to live near a beach, put on a bikini again and walk the streets without being abused.”

Mr Panebianco said his initial offer would have brought some financial assistance to the town and helped it, but that too many people in Glen are short sighted.

“The government would have offered financial assistance to these people and the town for infrastructure so that money would have been spent in town and therefore Glen would have benefited,” he said.

“What happened to my family and I over the past couple of weeks was akin to terrorism, the very thing those who are against the refugees say they don’t want in this town.”