I watched a Four Corners episode recently called ‘Bad Blood’ in which some of Australia’s top medical specialists spoke up about the preventable death of a young Iranian asylum seeker.

Hamid died from a skin infection that caused his death through a combination of bureaucratic bungling and current policies on treatment of those in the detention centre on Manus Island.

Australian governments have been far too willing to use poor countries to offload their responsibilities towards refugees.

The concern of medical staff about the poor health services was such that our current government passed the Border Force Act in July last year to silence concerned doctors and specialists who might speak publicly.

It is commendable that such eminent medicos as the president of the AMA, Professor Brian Owler and Professor David Isaacs, a specialist who treated people on the island, were willing to risk imprisonment by speaking the truth on Four Corners. 

What disturbs me most is the failure of Australia to provide humane conditions with adequate healthcare for these people.

Australia’s response in comparison with Europe and Canada is reprehensible. Now the High Court of Papua New Guinea has announced that the detention of refugees on Manus Island is unconstitutional and must end. 

With a Federal election looming I challenge all our candidates for Eden-Monaro to answer the following questions:

1) Will your party retain this disgraceful Border Force Act, a crude attempt to cover up what occurs?

2) Now that Manus Island will no longer be used as a ‘dumping ground’, how does your party propose to provide decent living conditions and healthcare until resettlement? 

Who has the courage to provide some honest answers? 

Dr Jacqueline Jaffrey, Eden

Regarding the future of Eden’s free pathology service at the Community Health Centre. In my opinion the issues are:

1. Choice. The patient should be able to choose which service to use.

2. Cost. With Pathology West (as far as I understand) the cost of all tests are covered so there is no cost to the patient at all. Some tests can be very expensive ($600+) and if you are already spending many dollars on medication etc this extra expense is prohibitive.  

3. Convenience. People can have specimens taken in Eden with relative ease; if fasting blood tests are required they are closer to home with minimal time before having a meal again. Other services are available at the centre and collection can sometimes happen at the same time as other appointments in the same place.

Jenny Drenkhahn, Eden 

I write on behalf of the Eden RSL sub-branch to thank the Magnet for your contribution to Anzac Day 2016. Your coverage of the services was, as usual, excellent.

The Magnet provides an invaluable service to the Eden community and your coverage of the Anzac Day services is another example of the outstanding asset your paper is to our region.

We would like to take this opportunity to also thank the many people and organisations that contribute to the success of our Anzac services. This includes the many volunteers who, often anonymously, give their time and efforts and of course the Eden community itself for their ongoing support of our ex-service community.

Our gratitude and sincerest thanks to all for your contributions and support.

Lindsay McCamish, honorary secretary, Returned and Services League