Dear Prime Minister,
Here are some of yesterday's payout headlines. Has your government's decision to settle succeeded in making this go away quietly?
2000 Manus Island asylum seekers may receive compensation: Fran Kelly, ABC RN
Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton condemn payout to refugees detained on Manus Island: Ben Doherty, The Guardian
Government agrees to $70m settlement for Manus detainees: Tom Lodewyke, Lawyers Weekly
Manus payout: Government has avoided having its dirty secrets exposed: Eva Orner, The Sydney Morning Herald (see Eva Orner's film, Chasing Asylum on iTunes here)
Government, corporations settle Manus class action at the last minute: Michelle Bennett, Director of Communications, Human Rights Law Centre
Manus detainee payout: The Project
Safety more important than settlement - Manus detainee: Benjamin Robinson-Drawbridge, RadioNZ
Andrew Wilkie, MP, writes 'Australian Government guilty of human rights abuses' and pledges to 'to pursue policies in the Parliament that will see the end to mandatory detention, boat towbacks and other measures to punish people, most of whom are fleeing for their lives.'
Finally, Fr Rod Bower of the Anglican Church of Gosford writes on his church billboard: 'Dutton's $70 million coverup of crimes against humanity'
Thank you to the group Eyes On Offshore for the media roundup.