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.

End offshore detention #243

Dear Prime Minister,

It now appears that DIBP has suppressed the company name of a detention centre contractor because it is concerned that the contractor's company will be boycotted or protested against. In laid-back, easy-going Australia it is most unusual for businesses to be targeted with boycotts or protests. That DIBP needs to protect its private contractors shows the power of the increasing numbers of Australians who are strongly opposed to the mistreatment of refugees and especially to offshore detention.

You are not listening. Labor is not listening. DIBP is not listening. So we take our action directly to the companies involved and they no longer want the financial or legal risks of being associated with the abusive system of immigration detention. What other solution is there but to close the camps and bring the detainees here?

What do you answer to this, Prime Minister? Close the camps and bring them here.

politics, activismRuth Halbertcompany boycotts, DIBP, clos, bringthemhereComment