DR. KAY DANES, OAM

... I'm very grateful that the Australian government may be finally willing to officially recognise Australians like me and others who were wrongly and arbitrarily detained overseas. I can personally attest to the fact that arbitrary detainment is terrifying. I would urge you to imagine for a moment that you are working overseas when government forces suddenly come into your office, drag you out onto the street, throw you into a car, drive you to a secret location where you are held indefinitely in a tiny cell without food, water or medical care. You're cut off from the rest of the world. You're cut off from anyone who can help you. You're subjected to torture in an attempt to force a false statement to an invented crime, and you are stripped of your dignity and rights. You struggle every day to survive inhumane conditions. This happened to me, and it can certainly happen to you.

Because of this ordeal, I am no longer eligible, along with other people like me, to travel under the Australian visa waiver program, despite my more recent employment where I travelled on a diplomatic passport, having met the criteria for the most stringent government security vetting protocols both foreign and domestic. Instead, I'm forced to live with a label of 'moral turpitude', which is considered to be conduct contrary to community standards of honesty, good morals or justice. And the label persists today, despite the fact that my dedication to international humanitarian service, social justice and human rights is recognised by the Australian Government and international organisations and that I'm also the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia, Rotary International awards, Australia Day honours and awards and other notable awards for my service to humanity.

None of these accolades or security clearances can spare me the indignity of what I must face whenever I seek to travel overseas as a common tourist. I therefore appeal for your compassion to advocate for those of us who have faced such injustice that, even with the offering of a presidential pardon, which was the case in our case, there is no relief!" -- Dr Kay Danes, OAM* (26 Sep 2024)

* OAM is the acronym for the Medal of the Order of Australia which is Australia's national system of honours and awards established by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 to recognize citizens and others for outstanding achievement and service. Appointments to the order are made by the Governor-General of Australia with the approval of the Sovereign.