Letter of the week

Both Labor and the Coalition put those lawfully seeking asylum in off-shore indefinite detention and both have worked diligently to keep them there, as a deterrent to others.

Folks giving Labor a free moral pass on Australia's track record of torturing and denying basic human rights to people seeking asylum by boat have very short memories.

Long after capitulating to Howard in 2001 during the Tampa affair, Labor enacted the Pacific Solution when it was blocked by the High Court from dumping asylum seekers in Malaysia, and it's been proudly and openly in lock-step with the Coalition government ever since.

Bill Shorten went to Labor's national conference this year seeking endorsement to continue supporting boat turn-backs, and he got it.

Every time the government mentions "national security" Labor falls into line.

So, here we are in 2019 - a person Australia has "detained" on Manus Island or Nauru may again cut their foot and die of sepsis within a fortnight, a short plane trip from modern medical treatment.

This is what Australian tax-payers are funding to the tune of $573,000 per detainee, per year.

Crimes against humanity certainly don't come cheap.

Each week one submission judged the Letter of the Week will win its author two tickets to Bendigo Cinemas. Tickets can be collected from our offices, at 67-71 Williamson Street, during office hours.

Winners will be announced in each Saturday edition of the Bendigo Advertiser, and online at www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

Letters must carry the name, full address and daytime telephone number of the author. We will publish the writer's name and suburb/town.

We reserve the right to edit letters. Letters deemed inappropriate will not be published.

Send letters to the Bendigo Advertiser, PO Box 61, Bendigo 3552, or using the form below.