Different versions of the letter were sent in September and October. They were from a senior official at the Department of Home Affairs and purported to be "at the request" of Minister Clare O'Neil.
Part of the letter reads:
"Settlement in Australia is not an option for you. The Australian government is strong against people smuggling and irregular maritime ventures. It will not allow any person who entered Australia by boat without a valid visa and is subject to regional processing to settle in Australia."
The letters were in English, and some were not personally addressed.
They requested that the recipient 'please advise the Department of your third country resettlement'. Some giving just weeks to do so.
Jane Favero is from the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.
"We were really shocked when we learnt of the letters and then were sent copies of the letters. You've got to remember these letters have been sent to a group of people who have been subject to trauma and suffering at the hand of the Australia government for over 10 years. Most of them have been transferred to Australia for medical treatment so to receive a letter which had language in it which was demanding was really surprising to us because it did not seem to consider the human element or the impact or distress these letters would cause on a group of people who sought safety on our shores."
