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Subject: Urgent: Unseal the evidence from the Port Arthur Massacre.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing as a concerned Australian regarding the fact that the evidence from the Port Arthur Massacre, in 1996 sealed for 75 years. I would like the records of evidence unsealed and an enquiry into the Port Arthur Massacre held please. The Australian deserve the right to know the truth. Please stand up for our democratic freedoms.

[Your Full Name]

[Your Postcode]

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Freedom of Information Request – Unsealing of Port Arthur Files

 

To Whom It May Concern,

 

I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act to request access to, or the unsealing of, files and transcripts relating to the Port Arthur incident of April 1996, specifically including but not limited to:

 

1. The complete audio and written transcripts of negotiations between Martin Bryant and Tasmania Police during the siege at Seascape Cottage.

 

2. Any references in those records to individuals other than Bryant, including but not limited to a person identified by Bryant as “Rick.”

 

3. Records of the chain of custody and forensic analysis of evidence collected at Seascape Cottage.

 

4. Communications between Tasmania Police, the Special Operations Group, and federal agencies regarding the incident, both during and immediately after the siege.

 

5. Any documentation outlining the reasons for these records being sealed and the legal authority under which they remain unavailable to the public.

 

This request is made in good faith and in the public interest. It is widely known that the Port Arthur case remains one of the most consequential and divisive events in Australian history. Given that Martin Bryant never stood trial and that he was convicted solely on a guilty plea entered under circumstances that many Australians find questionable, the continued sealing of these records fuels public mistrust.

 

Transparency is vital in a democracy. Sealing records of such importance not only undermines confidence in the judicial process but also prevents independent researchers, journalists, and citizens from reaching an informed understanding of what occurred. The families of victims, as well as the broader Australian community, deserve access to the truth.

 

The official narrative contains numerous acknowledged inconsistencies — including eyewitness reports that conflict with the prosecution’s account, forensic anomalies, and unresolved references to other individuals allegedly present. Restricting access to the records prevents legitimate questions from being addressed, and allows conspiracy theories to flourish unchecked.

 

For these reasons, I respectfully request that these files be reviewed for release, with appropriate redactions only where strictly necessary for personal privacy or national security. To maintain them under indefinite seal is inconsistent with principles of open government, and only deepens suspicion that material facts have been withheld.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]