letter to editor of local newspapers 23 February 2019

Printed on 28 February 2019  in The Guardian News with a big heading as main letter of the week.

_{Dear Editor,}

_{Our Home Affairs Minister , Peter Dutton, has awarded a contract worth half a billion dollars over two years to a company registered to a beach shack on Kangaroo Island . The company,  Paladin Holdings, has been awarded the tender to provide security and administration for the Manus Island Detention Centre . Paladin Holdings is being paid $20 million each month for this service of which $17 million is estimated to be profit. There was no open and proper tendering process for this contract.}

_{Why does our government prefer to spend such vast amounts of taxpayers’ money, most of which goes directly into the pockets of private providers, rather than spending a small fraction of this amount bringing these refugees to Australia and giving them a fresh start in life ?}

_{Many of the men detained on Manus Island have been skilled workers and professionals in their home countries and they would have much to contribute to our communities.} 

_{It’s time to put an end to this deliberately cruel and inhumane policy .}

_{Many of us were taught to believe that Australia is the country of ‘The Fair Go’. We are good at talking the talk and now we need to walk the walk.}

_{Marlene Griffin}

_{Valla Beach}