On Friday 10th November I was invited to speak, separately, to two journalists about Australia's offshore detention regime and the current crisis on Manus Island. During the interviews I spoke about how difficult it has been to have the issue reported on and scrutinised by the press. I asked the journalists what could be done when an official or politician tells an outright lie which contradicts all the evidence yet is unchallenged. They admitted that it made their job extremely difficult. Prime Minister, you have the power to discipline your Ministers if they betray their positions by acting illegally and lying. If you don't, you are complicit.
The men on Manus, who remain peaceful and self-disciplined despite witnessing PNG Immigration employees under the direction of Australian Border Force destroy their water storage and shade, understand the consequences of political lies. They experience the lies directly, in imprisonment, hunger, thirst, illness, injury and slander. Behrouz Boochani writes:
Evacuate all detainees on Manus Island, Port Moresby and Nauru and bring them to safety now.