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.

No health care

Dear Prime Minister,

Why haven't you sacked Minister Dutton yet? We have lost count of the lies, the illegal actions, the waste of money. We remember with despair every day the people on Manus Island and Nauru: the dead, the permanently injured, the raped, the mentally ill - all done by Australia.

When Minister Dutton was asked how medical care will be provided to Australia's refugees on PNG when the current contract with IHMS ends he said "ask IHMS." IHMS said "ask Dutton's department" who said "ask PNG." PNG's chief medical officer said, in an understatement, that the situation is "worrying" and that he was waiting to hear from Australia. He has not been able to brief PNG's new health minister because of lack of information from Australia.

Four years of torture, of blocking resettlement and now destruction of the detention centre leaves the detainees on Manus and the majority of Australians, who are horrified at the worsening situation, waiting in fear of Minister Dutton's next unspeakable act. Bring all detainees to safety and freedom.

Peter Dutton, dangerRuth HalbertManus Island, Australia's responsibility, IHMS, tortureComment