Australia is a democracy, and as such, you have every right to know where your local MP stands on indefinite detention. The House is a new initiative from Letters For Ranjini designed to find out who wants an end to the legal black hole, who supports indefinite detention and who is just ignoring it.
Click here to contact your MP
We are eternally grateful to the following for standing up against indefinite detention:
Harry Jenkins – ALP – Scullin
Gave a speech to Parliament in support of Ranjini, read it here
Adam Bandt – Greens – Melbourne
Wrote this fantastic blog post stating his objection to indefinite detention
Stephen Jones – ALP – Thosby
“A fundamental principle I would have thought.”
Rob Oakeshott – Independent – Lyne
““Indefinite detention” is an oxymoron, not a policy.”
Melissa Parke – ALP – Fremantle
“I am happy to confirm my opposition to indefinite detention.”
Steve Georganas – ALP – Hindmarsh
“I would be happy for you to include my name on the list of MPs against indefinite detention. As a Labor MP, I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in support of finding another way which speaks to our Labor values of social justice, compassion and a fair go for all.
Please be assured I will be raising this issue with my parliamentary colleagues, with Minister Bowen and with Prime Minister Gillard when parliament returns next week.
I will also endeavour to raise this issue in my capacity as a co-chair of the Cross Parliamentary Working Group on Refugees, and note that almost all of the other MPs who appear on your supporters list are also part of this group.”
Russell Broadbent – LNP – McMillan
“This nation of the great south land has always held to the right of the individual to have their day in court. The colour of your skin, the mode of arrival, your life’s background, are irrelevant to the right to a fair go. The Australian parliament should now resolve that no person can be held in indefinite detention without the right of appeal and the full knowledge of the basis of the adverse assessment from the authorities. It is not whether ASIO is right or wrong. It is about the character of this nation.”
(Please read Mr. Broadbent’s full speech here, it is incredible)
Maria Vamvakinou – ALP – Calwell
“I have visited Villawood and I have also visited the people in MITA, I have been a part of a group of collegues who lobbied Nicola Roxon, we continue to be concerned about the prospect of indefinite detention, a prospect that is untenable! We will continue to express our concerns but the voice of the Australian people is also powerful. You and others need to be a part of this advocacy, I am happy to keep in touch, we are always told that adverse security is a “hard one”, but I believe that we should be able to make a difference…”
Honourable Mentions
Honourable mentions go to the following who have helped us out – If any of you read this and are against indefinite detention, let us know and we’ll put you on the honour roll.
Kelly O’Dwyer – LNP – Higgins
Wrote to Chris Bowen regarding Ranjini
Daryl Melham – ALP – Banks (Read his email response here)
Told that there must be another solution.
Senator Hanson-Young and Senator Ludlam
Have both offered invaluable support.
Are you an MP and think you deserve a mention? Let us know
Waiting for a response
If you’ve emailed a member and they’re not on this list, drop us a line so we can add them –
The following members have not replied to correspondence, or failed to answer the question:
6 letters:
Steve Gibbons – ALP – Bendigo
First emailed 23/01/13
4 letters:
Martin Ferguson – ALP – Batman, VIC
First emailed 24/01/13
3 letters:
Alan Griffin – ALP – Bruce
First emailed 29/01/13
Nicola Roxon – ALP – Gellibrand
First emailed 24/01/13
2 letters:
Michael Danby – ALP – Melbourne Ports, VIC
First emailed 23/1/13
Anthony Byrne – ALP – Holt (read his almost answer here)
First emailed 29/01/13
Justine Elliot – ALP – Richmond
First emailed 25/01/13
Amanda Rishworth – ALP – Kingston
First emailed 30/01/13
Bill Shorten – ALP – Maribyrnong
First emailed 29/01/13
Deborah O’Neill – ALP – Robertson
First emailed 30/01/13
Rob Mitchell – ALP – Mcewen
First emailed 30/01/13
Anthony Albanese – ALP – Grayndler, NSW
First emailed 23/1/13
Laura Smyth – ALP – La Trobe
First emailed 30/01/13
1 Letter:
Dick Adams – ALP – Lyons, TAS
Emailed 23/1/13
John Murphy – ALP – Reid, NSW
Emailed 23/1/13
Michael Keenan – LNP – Stirling, WA
Emailed 24/01/13
Phillip Ruddock – LNP – Berowra, NSW (response here)
Emailed 24/01/13
Robert McLelland – ALP – Barton, NSW
Emailed 24/01/13
Natasha Griggs – LNP – Solomon
Emailed 24/01/13
Mike Symon – ALP – Deakin
Emailed 24/01/13
Bruce Billson – LNP – Dunkley
Emailed 25/01/13
Kelvin Thompson – ALP – Wills
Emailed 25/01/13
Tanya Plibersek – ALP – Sydney
Emailed 25/01/13
Scott Morrison – LNP – Cook
Emailed 29/01/13
Christopher Pyne – LNP – Sturt
Emailed 29/01/12
Kevin Andrews – LNP – Menzies
Emailed 29/01/13
Sharon Bird – ALP – Cunningham
Emailed 29/01/13
Nick Champion – ALP – Wakefield
Emailed 29/01/13
Bronwyn Bishop – LNP – Makellar
Emailed 29/01/13
Gai Brodtmann – ALP – Canberra
Emailed 29/01/13
Anna Burke – ALP – Chisholm
Emailed 29/01/13
Tony Burke – ALP – Watson
Emailed 29/01/13
Kate Ellis – ALP – Adelaide
Emailed 29/01/13
Joel Fitzgibbon – ALP – Hunter
Emailed 29/01/13
Kevin Rudd – ALP – Griffith
Emailed 29/01/13
John Alexander – LNP – Bennelong
Emailed 29/01/13
David Bradbury – ALP – Lindsay
Emailed 29/01/13
Jamie Briggs – LNP – Mayo
Emailed 29/01/13
Mark Butler – ALP – Port Adelaide
Emailed 29/01/13
Darren Cheeseman – ALP – Corangamite
Emailed 29/01/13
Jason Clare – ALP – Blaxland
Emailed 29/01/13
Julie Collins – ALP – Franklin
Emailed 29/01/13
Greg Combet – ALP – Charlton
Emailed 29/01/13
Yvette D’ath – ALP – Petrie
Emailed 29/01/13
Mark Dreyfus – ALP – Isaacs
Emailed 29/01/13
Craig Emerson – ALP – Rankin
Emailed 29/01/13
Laurie Ferguson – ALP – Werriwa
Emailed 29/01/13
Julia Gillard – ALP – Lalor
Emailed 29/01/13
Tony Smith – LNP – Casey
Emailed 29/01/13
Paul Fletcher – LNP – Bradfield (read his almost response here)
Emailed 30/01/13
Josh Frydenberg – LNP – Kooyong
Emailed 30/01/13
Gary Gray – ALP – Brand
Emailed 30/01/13
Jill Hall – ALP – Shortland
Emailed 30/01/13
Chris Hayes – ALP – Fowler
Emailed 30/01/13
Joe Hockey – LNP – North Sydney
Emailed 30/01/13
Bob Katter – KAP – Kennedy
Emailed 30/01/13
Catherine King – ALP – Ballarat
Emailed 30/01/13
Andrew Leigh – ALP – Fraser
Emailed 30/01/13
Sussan Ley – LNP – Farrer
Emailed 30/01/13
Kirsten Livermore – ALP – Capricornia
Emailed 30/01/13
Shayne Neumann – ALP – Blair
Emailed 30/01/13
Julie Owens – ALP – Parramatta (view her reply here)
Emailed 30/01/13
Bernie Ripoll – ALP – Oxley
Emailed 30/01/13
Stephen Smith – ALP – Perth
Emailed 30/01/13
Janelle Saffin – ALP – Page
Emailed 30/01/13
Warren Snowdon – ALP – Lingiari
Emailed 30/01/13
Tony Zappia – ALP – Makin
Emailed 30/01/13
Maria Vamvakinou – ALP – Calwell
Emailed 30/01/13
Tony Windsor – IND – New England
Emailed 30/01/13
Mal Washer – LNP – Moore
Emailed 30/01/13
Ed Husic – ALP – Chifley
Emailed 30/01/13
Mike Kelly – ALP – Eden-Monaro
Emailed 30/01/13
Geoff Lyons – ALP – Bass
Emailed 30/01/13
Jenny Macklin – ALP – Jagajaga
Emailed 30/01/13
Richard Marles – ALP – Corio
Emailed 30/01/13
Graham Perrett – ALP – Moreton
Emailed 30/01/13
Michelle Rowland – ALP – Greenway
Emailed 30/01/13
Sid Sidebottom – ALP – Braddon
Emailed 30/01/13
Wayne Swan – ALP – Lilley
Emailed 30/01/13
Louise Markus – LNP – Macquarie (view her response here)
Emailed 30/01/13
Andrew Southcott – LNP – Boothby
Emailed 01/02/13
Teresa Gambaro – LNP – Brisbane
Emailed 14/02/13
Supporters of indefinite detention
The following members have stated that they support indefinite detention.
Warren Entsch – LNP – Leichhardt (read his letter)
“I also do not believe that ASIO rulings should be reviewable”
Ewen Jones – LNP – Herbert (read his letter)
“I am in favour of stopping the boats”
Simon Crean – ALP – Hotham (read his letter)
‘ it is Government policy, which I support, to detain irregular maritime arrivals’
STILL TO BE CONTACTED
If you see your MP in the list below, please send them a letter and let us know!
Chris Bowen
Tony Abbott
Karen Andrews
Bob Baldwin
Julie Bishop
Russell Broadbent
Scott Buchholz
Darren Chester
George Christensen
Steve Ciobo
John Cobb
Mark Coulton
Tony Crook
Peter Dutton
John Forrest
Peter Garrett
Joanna Gash
Sharon Grierson
Barry Haase
Luke Hartsuyker
Alex Hawke
Greg Hunt
Steve Irons
Dennis Jensen
Craig Kelly
Andrew Laming
Ian Macfarlane
Nola Marino
Russell Matheson
Michael McCormack
Sophie Mirabella
Judi Moylan
Paul Neville
Brendan O’Connor
Ken O’Dowd
Jane Prentice
Rowan Ramsay
Don Randall
Amanda Rishworth
Andrew Robb
Stuart Robert
Wyatt Roy
Alby Shultz
Bruce Scott
Patrick Secker
Luke Simpkins
Peter Slipper
Laura Smyth
Alexander Somlyay
Shaman Stone
Dan Tehan
Craig Thomson
Warren Truss
Alan Tudge
Malcolm Turnbull
Bert van Manan
Ross Vasta
Andrew Wilkie