The Freedom Award is my little way of thanking the many, many people who have done amazing things to contribute to seeing an end to Indefinite Detention and the legal black hole that Ranjini faces. 

In February we were asking people to chase their MP for a position on indefinite detention, and we had so many amazing letters to the Government from Ranjini supporters all over Australia. Our February winner of The Freedom Award is someone who didn’t just contact their MP, but actively pursued them for an opinion!

Congratulations to Karen Bruce-Allen from South Golden Beach, NSW – winner of the February Freedom Award.

Karen wrote to her local member, Justine Elliot, 3 times without any response (including one fantastic reply to a mailing list message) before she finally got an offer from Ms. Elliot to take the case to Minister O’Connor. We never thought this would be easy, but if you continue to pursue your member and spread Ranjini’s story, great things can happen.

Congratulations Karen!

On Tuesday I posted a note calling for courage from our Parliamentarians, and last night our good friends at ChilOut and GetUp launched a campaign which shows exactly why courage matters. 

Their new website - http://outofsight.org.au/ - is quite incredible, featuring drawings, letters and an interview with people on Manus. Detention is no place for children, especially the new island prisons of Manus Island and Nauru.

This is where courage is needed, the political courage to stand up to the fear campaigns and declare that detaining children is morally indefensible – and the courage to refuse to vote for policies which make it legal.

This is a call that Minister O’Connor has to make – it is up to each one of us, and each MP to contact him and leave him in no doubt how the community feels about children in detention.

Read more at http://outofsight.org.au/

I try to refrain from using this site for reasons outside of showcasing your letters and the amazing amount of support in the community for an end to the draconian and cruel practice of indefinite detention, however yesterday I received an email that I felt deserved a more considered response. 

“Thank you for contacting me with your offer. I really appreciate it, however, as a cabinet minister, it would be inappropriate for me to be added to the list.

I wish you well with your endeavour.

Best wishes,
Tanya”

This was an email I received from Tanya Plibersek in response to my offer to add her to the Honour Board on The House.

Before I begin, I want to thank Minister Plibersek for her honesty and availability to her constituents – she is a Minister who I have great personal respect for and I don’t want this to be perceived as an attack on her or her character. The mere fact she has responded to both my correspondence and another letter from a constituent puts her above the many who have ignored the question completely.

I debated releasing this email at all as I don’t want this campaign to become about politician bashing. I believe that many, if not most, politicians understand the problems that Ranjini’s case highlights – a sheer denial of justice and life in a a legal black hole – but are unable to comment publicly for a variety of largely political reasons. Many have simply ignored the letters sent to them by constituents in the hope that it might just go away, so I again commend Minister Plibersek for her response.

The reason I decided to publish this was that it raises some questions that I think are worthy of consideration. The nature of politics can often mean that the line of what is ‘appropriate’ becomes blurred, sometimes breaking a promise in favour of achieving a better outcome for the country is an ethical decision for example.

What I find remarkable is that in the face of a baby growing up in jail, a mother facing her life in prison without any access to justice – it can be considered more appropriate to stay quiet and let it happen than to possibly rock the boat so close to an election. I’m glad that we have fantastic people like Russell Broadbent and Steve Georganas who are brave enough to say ‘what we are doing is wrong’, but i’m disappointed that it happens so rarely. Dissent should be natural in politics, issues should divide parties and it shouldn’t be a media circus when it happens. Rather than sniffing around the backbenches for the slightest taste of a leadership struggle – wouldn’t we be better served to have a media chasing the people who refuse to say what they believe in?

The big story shouldn’t come from political disagreement – it should be about MP’s who, through a lack of courage or an excess of ambition, insult us all by staying quiet when their voice is needed. Leadership demands courage, and as voters we should demand it too.

I was saddened to hear of Ranjini’s plight and of the treatment her and her family have had to endure. When will common sense prevail? Australia’s treatment of refugees is an embarrassment. Good luck. I hope that one day you and your boys can proudly call Austrslia your home. Naomi

Letters For Ranjini was established to campaign for hope, justice and opportunity – in supporting those aims, supporting the Right To Work campaign was obvious. 

“The right to work is absolutely crucial in giving refugees a chance to be part of Australian society, these are wonderful people who want to contribute and we are doing ourselves a disservice in not embracing and making use of that.” says Letters For Ranjini founder Anthony Bieniak.

“It’s not simply a matter of justice, it makes economic sense. Allowing work rights for asylum seekers and refugees benefits everyone and we call upon Minister O’Connor and Prime Minister Gillard to make this common sense decision urgently”

Find out more about the campaign at righttowork.com.au

This is one for the parents who have joined our campaign. Over the next 6 months you will no doubt be harassed and stalked by politicians looking to sure up your vote. We have a very simple message that you can give them. 

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It has been over a month since we launched The House, which we think is more than enough time to respond to your constituents. Tomorrow is the deadline for the following MP’s before we start finding alternative candidates to support in September…

But, in the interest of fairness, we need your help to send a pleasant reminder to the following MP’s who have letters they haven’t responded to. It couldn’t be easier – pick a few MP’s from this list and click the Tweet button to send a pleasant reminder. 

Feel free to send your own Tweets, use the #FreeRanjini so we can keep track!

6 letters:
Steve Gibbons – ALP – Bendigo
First emailed 23/01/13
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2 letters:
Michael Danby – ALP – Melbourne Ports, VIC
First emailed 23/1/13
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Anthony Byrne – ALP – Holt
First emailed 29/01/13
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Amanda Rishworth – ALP – Kingston
First emailed 30/01/13
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Bill Shorten – ALP – Maribyrnong
First emailed 29/01/13
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Deborah O’Neill – ALP – Robertson
First emailed 30/01/13
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Rob Mitchell – ALP – Mcewen
First emailed 30/01/13
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Anthony Albanese – ALP – Grayndler, NSW
First emailed 23/1/13
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1 Letter:

Michael Keenan – LNP – Stirling, WA
Emailed 24/01/13
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Natasha Griggs – LNP – Solomon
Emailed 24/01/13
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Kelvin Thompson – ALP – Wills
Emailed 25/01/13
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Tanya Plibersek – ALP – Sydney
Emailed 25/01/13
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Scott Morrison – LNP – Cook
Emailed 29/01/13
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Kevin Andrews – LNP – Menzies
Emailed 29/01/13
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Sharon Bird – ALP – Cunningham
Emailed 29/01/13
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Nick Champion – ALP – Wakefield
Emailed 29/01/13
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Gai Brodtmann – ALP – Canberra
Emailed 29/01/13
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Tony Burke – ALP – Watson
Emailed 29/01/13
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Kate Ellis – ALP – Adelaide
Emailed 29/01/13
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Joel Fitzgibbon – ALP – Hunter
Emailed 29/01/13
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Kevin Rudd – ALP – Griffith
Emailed 29/01/13
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John Alexander – LNP – Bennelong
Emailed 29/01/13
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David Bradbury – ALP – Lindsay
Emailed 29/01/13
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Jamie Briggs – LNP – Mayo
Emailed 29/01/13
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Mark Butler – ALP – Port Adelaide
Emailed 29/01/13
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Jason Clare – ALP – Blaxland
Emailed 29/01/13
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Julie Collins – ALP – Franklin
Emailed 29/01/13
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Yvette D’ath – ALP – Petrie
Emailed 29/01/13
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Craig Emerson – ALP – Rankin
Emailed 29/01/13
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Julia Gillard – ALP – Lalor
Emailed 29/01/13
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Tony Smith – LNP – Casey
Emailed 29/01/13
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Paul Fletcher – LNP – Bradfield (read his almost response here)
Emailed 30/01/13
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Josh Frydenberg – LNP – Kooyong
Emailed 30/01/13
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Jill Hall – ALP – Shortland
Emailed 30/01/13
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Joe Hockey – LNP – North Sydney
Emailed 30/01/13
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Bob Katter – KAP – Kennedy
Emailed 30/01/13
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Catherine King – ALP – Ballarat
Emailed 30/01/13
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Andrew Leigh – ALP – Fraser
Emailed 30/01/13
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Maria Vamvakinou – ALP – Calwell
Emailed 30/01/13
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Tony Windsor – IND – New England
Emailed 30/01/13
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Ed Husic – ALP – Chifley
Emailed 30/01/13
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Mike Kelly – ALP – Eden-Monaro
Emailed 30/01/13
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Richard Marles – ALP – Corio
Emailed 30/01/13
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Graham Perrett – ALP – Moreton
Emailed 30/01/13
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Michelle Rowland – ALP – Greenway
Emailed 30/01/13
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Sid Sidebottom – ALP – Braddon
Emailed 30/01/13
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Wayne Swan – ALP – Lilley
Emailed 30/01/13
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Andrew Southcott – LNP – Boothby
Emailed 01/02/13
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Teresa Gambaro – LNP – Brisbane
Emailed 14/02/13
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Can’t find your MP? Perhaps they’re not on Twitter, or they’ve already responded

—-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—-
February 22, 2012

Letters For Ranjini is calling upon Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to immediately apologise to the Australian refugee community for his offensive and divisive remarks regarding refugees in bridging Visas.

When asked in a doorstop interview on Thursday how an Abbott Government would handle refugees on Bridging Visas, Morrison responded with this:

‘We learnt just this week the NSW Police are now having to train officers to deal with some of the more serious consequences that can flow from people being out in the community who have poor language skills and may have a series of other issues for them personally which can present as issues for the police. Now that is something I have always been concerned about. ‘

‘Scott Morrison’s comments were clearly designed to draw a link between refugees and crime, an unsubstantiated link designed to encourage fear and suspicion, and one that is both discriminatory and offensive to the many wonderful people who come to Australia for a new life’ says Anthony Bieniak, founder of Letters For Ranjini.

‘The NSW Police training he refers to was general training for “mentally ill people from multicultural backgrounds”. Has Mr Morrison considered the impact of his comments on refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives?’

‘Mr. Morrison would do well to remember that the ‘mess’ he refers to is 20,000 human beings. 20,000 mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who are trying to create a new life for themselves. The NSW Police training he refers to was general training for “mentally ill people from multicultural backgrounds”, has he considered the impact of his comments on the vulnerable people involved? This is another awful example of the LNP trying to spread fear about refugees in order to win votes.’

‘Mr. Morrison should apologise to the Australian population for his deception, and to the refugee community for the offensive comments. Australians are tired of division and discrimination and we hope the Shadow Minister will be more welcoming of multiculturalism in the future’

CONTACT: Anthony Bieniak
0419 342 164
anthony.bieniak@gmail.com

More reading on Scott Morrison

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Dear Ranjini

Hope your new baby is doing well given the difficult circumstances.

Best wishes Catherine

We’ve heard some ridiculous excuses from MP’s (including some who had to consult others before they could give a personal opinion), but in an election year – we have choice.
If your MP is one of the many who has ignored your letters – we’re asking you send this FINAL NOTICE.
Feb 28 is deadline day, after this point we will begin our search for new candidates who support Ranjini, justice and the rule of law.  

Subject: Final Notice
CC: letters@lettersforranjini.com

‘Dear XXXXXXX, 

I am writing to urgently request your position on indefinite detention for refugees held on Adverse ASIO assessments, as well as your position on the review process for these assessments. 

It has been a number of weeks since you were first contacted regarding this issue. Please ensure you respond by February 28, 2012. At this point I will be seeking an alternative candidate, as I can not vote for someone who will not state their position on an issue so important to me. 

Please also note that, as a constituent, I expect more than a form letter or vague response that avoids stating a position.

Thank you for your time, I look forward to your response.

XXXXXXXX’