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.