For years now I have been upset by the plight of refugees and the political capital amassed by each successive government at the expense of these people.

I ask you to do what you can to cease the cruel and unjust treatment of refugees on Naru and Manus Islands and in detention centres.

Surely we, you, can do better than this.

Torture corrupts the torturer as well as the tortured.

Australia's treatment of these families corrupts our morality and our soul.Even if you consider only the damage to Australia the treatment must stop.

If you consider the victims I imagine that like your own innocent children you would not want them to be treated cruelly or unjustly.

We know the party system binds and constrains members of the party.

However sometimes it is necessary to break from a group agreement on a matter of human decency and justice.

Government by fear can only succeed if the people of integrity do not call it for what it is; political opportunism at the expense of integrity.

You must know this, you are not silly.

As a member of your electorate, my representative, I implore you to take a courageous stand and speak out in defiance of the current treatment of refugees.

There is more support for humane treatment of refugees than you might imagine in the community.

Even if there were not numbers, do not decide what is ethical or moral.

Please, do what you can.

Michael D. Breen,

Robertson