In a hand written letter Manus Island asylum seekers have congratulated the new prime minister on his ascent.

We, the undersigned, ask this:

Will Malcolm Turnbull reciprocate by offering the hand of friendship and be the first Australian prime minister to visit our offshore detention centres?

Prime Minister Turnbull says the plight of asylum seekers in Australia's detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru is a 'legitimate question' to which he'll be paying 'close attention'. This is a welcome acknowledgement which corrects Tony Abbott's approach that “Australians are sick of being lectured to by the UN”; that statement was not and is not representative of the Australian community who have rallied across the nation in support of upholding the fundamental human rights of asylum seekers who come to our shores.

Through their skilfull and courageous political defiance, Australian health professionals, despite the Border Force Act, continue to speak out and can give Turnbull a briefing on what he should look for on a visit to Nauru.

As human rights activist and lawyer Kellie Tranter highlighted in her call for the Prime Minister to visit Manus Island and Nauru: "Turnbull may be introduced to the six-year-old girl who was treated for burns around her neck because she was attempting to commit suicide with a piece of fence tie, or to the children who are wondering what crimes they have committed to be imprisoned. Or he may meet the families in despair because of their unknown fate. In a reflective moment Turnbull may well ask to what extent he now bears responsibility for the savage assaults on the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees."