Actors Sam Neill, Rebecca Gibney, Simon Baker, Asher Keddie and Bryan Brown are among hundreds of Australia's most well known film and TV stars to sign the open letter, calling for the major parties to "put politics aside" and end Australia's offshore detention policy.
The letter, which will be presented to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten on Monday, also calls on those in Canberra to support a bill set to be introduced by Independent MP Kerryn Phelps to make it easier for asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru to be flown to Australia for medical and psychiatric treatment.
The TV and film personalities have gotten behind the #BlueForManusandNauru campaign, and are calling for attendees of the AACTA Award in Sydney on Wednesday night to wear blue ribbons.
"Together we send this message to parliament, to you who represent us: Please put aside parties and politics," the letter said.
"After five years of indefinite detention, we must bring these human beings to safety and ensure they receive the medical treatment they need."
Neill and Gibney also appear in a video alongside music icon Jimmy Barnes and actor Warwick Thornton, condemning the federal government's offshore detention policy.
"It is hard to think of anything more cruel than indefinite detention, no charges, no prospect of release, no end in sight," Neill said.
"This is barbarity."
Barnes calls for federal MPs to "listen to your consciences".
MPs Rebekha Sharkie, Kerryn Phelps and Cathy McGowan all want a federal corruption watchdog. Source: AAP
Dr Phelps' bill, which is expected to be introduced on Monday but may not be debated, would require the urgent evacuation of any asylum seeker who is critically ill and unable to be treated offshore, as well as their families, on the recommendation of two or more doctors.
It would strip from existing legislation the ability of Australia's immigration minister to veto medical transfer requests from treating doctors.
The changes would also require the urgent medical transfer of all asylum seeker children on Nauru.
"It's a medical solution, not a political solution, to a humanitarian crisis," independent MP Kerryn Phelps told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
Dr Phelps has the backing of fellow crossbenchers Andrew Wilkie, Rebekha Sharkie and Adam Bandt.
But she will need support from the full cross bench, as well as Labor and one coalition member, to bring on the debate in the lower house.
