Letter to our new prime minister ....

The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600



Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Sir,

Please accept my congratulations on the prompt attention to the human rights violations experienced by asylum seekers resulting in the announcement that Burmese detainees on Nauru will be safely in Australia for Christmas this year. You have shown you also care about the challenges of climate change and the fate of whales and have been seen to respond with resources and actions that show congruence and integrity as a leader.

I look forward to the human rights abuses experienced by Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse being dealt with in the same prompt manner with the same commitment of resources and action.

What I wish is that these innocent and vulnerable Australian children and women could get the same humanitarian care and response so that they, like the many others I have begged for assistance since 1999, could be enjoying safety and sunshine with their families in Australian this Christmas season.

Extensive information and documentation regarding this situation has been shared with many, including
Attorney- General’s office
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Consulate, Ottawa, Canada
Ombudsman’s office
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
and those mentioned in the accompanying material

I have also contacted the offices of .... but it seems that Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse “fall through the cracks” and are no-ones responsibility or concern.

Documentation shared with the Attorney-General’s office and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1999 includes letters from professionals (doctor, social worker with domestic violence support group, counsellor, pre-school teacher) expressing their concern for my children’s and my safety and expressing concern that the provincial Justice Department’s employee who conducted the Custody and Access Assessment misrepresented the information they shared with him regarding their concerns and our experience of domestic violence. You will have ready access to all that material and the information shared with those mentioned above.

In light of the recent assertions that you will not tolerate violence against children and women, that you expect ministerial accountability and that having a female deputy prime minister (and for a short period of time acting prime minister) is a historic and significant occurrence and opportunity for encouragement for all girls and women I continue to be traumatised by the lack of response or assistance for my children and myself and the other Australian children and women in similar circumstances.

Considering the traumatic and life threatening impact this situation had on my children and myself, and undoubtable on other Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse I look forward to being informed of your response to this information.

Sincerely,


Mailed (guaranteed next day delivery) 20th December 2007, as yet no response.