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.

Manus and Nauru unconscionable

Dear Prime Minister,

Refugees International president, Eric Schwartz, describes Australia's treatment of refugees as "leading a race to the bottom."

Is that your idea of a clever country, to torture and illegally imprison vulnerable people? People, who by their attempt to come here, had demonstrated the kind of commitment to Australia that many of the Australian-born could never match. All of that potential has been insulted and wasted. It will take years for Australia to redeem itself. Start now by giving freedom and safety to all on Manus and Nauru.

Ruth HalbertComment