Ruth Halbert
artist, weaver
Paper boat Rud.jpg

Blog: Dear Prime Minister

On July 30 2016 I started writing letters to the Prime Minister of Australia to protest against the imprisonment and torture of the asylum seekers in the offshore detention centres of Manus Island and Nauru. I started with the intention of writing a letter a day for every person in detention until they are all freed. There are more than 1800 asylum seekers in off shore detention. These are those letters and any response from Mr Turnbull.

Letters to Tyranny #42

Dear Prime Minister,

"Our current approaches [to asylum seekers] are not sustainable, fiscally responsible or protection-sensitive. We must develop and promote durable, legal and human solutions for people in need of protection. A new Australian approach should not be considered a sign of weakness or a policy backflip, but rather a considered response to the legal and moral imperative to take a leading role in an area of acute global need."

It is urgent that you develop the solutions that Professor McAdam calls for in the conclusion of her article in Monday's Guardian, not only for Mr XXX XXX, the 42nd asylum seeker on Manus Island, but for all current and future refugees and for your own legacy as Prime Minister of Australia.

Yours faithfully

Ruth Halbert

politics, lawRuth Halbertrefugees, moral responsibility, Manus IslandComment