Dear Kevin

The ShadowLands has emailed the Prime Minister, once again, as follows:

Dear Mr Rudd

On December 5, 2008 I emailed you about asylum seekers, including the following advice: "...there's a great chance there will be an influx of refugees this Summer because of these lax policies, and a significant chance some may drown on the voyage. If this happens, you and your government will largely be responsible."

Since this time, four people were found washed up off Timor in January, five drowned in April, and the latest news is that nine people suspected of intending to come to Australia have been found drowned off Malaysia. Eighteen people have drowned since you implemented the new immigration policies.

Asylum seekers have been quoted on the ABC as saying your policies are partly responsible for their wishing to come to Australia.

UNHCR figures show that the number of asylum seekers increased 19 per cent from 2007 to 2008, but the number of people trying to come to Australia on leaky boats has increased about 300 per cent since you changed the laws in August. Any attempt by you to use the UNHCR figures as justification for this surge in numbers is dishonest.

How many deaths will it take before you decide that your immigration policies are wrong?

As John Maynard Keynes once said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do sir?"

Well - what do you do sir?

Yours sincerely

MM