Dear Prime Minister,

My focus in writing these letters has been on:

1. the illegality of Australia's offshore detention system;
2. the inhumanity of our treatment of asylum seekers;
3. the cost;
4. the damage being done to Australia.

You have not responded to any of these issues. While I wait for your answers I will ask you a further question, one which is directly related to the function of government in Australia. As Prime Minister, where do you believe power needs to reside: with parliament, with government. or with the executive? How does this power relate to constitutional, human or civil rights? Can this power supersede these rights? If so, under what circumstances?

Yours faithfully

Ruth Halbert