Gulags R us.
Detention centre firm dumped
By KAREN POLGLAZE
23dec02
IMMIGRATION detention centres across the nation will come under new management.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock highlighted better value for money as
the reason Group 4 Falck Global Solutions won the tender from incumbent
managers Australasian Correctional Management and two others.
ACM has been criticised for its handling of detention centres after
asylum-seekers rioted and committed serious acts of self-harm, including
hunger strikes, sewing their lips and drinking harmful liquids such as
shampoo.
But the Denmark-based Group 4 has also come under fire over detention
centres it runs in Britain.
In 1998, ACM began a 10-year agreement to run detention centres. But the
Government last year announced it would put the contract to tender when the
current one expired.
Mr Ruddock said the Government had started talks with Group 4 on a contract.
"It is about better value for money but in terms of getting the best job
done, we have sought to achieve that through very comprehensive detention
standards that would apply whoever won the contract," he said in Perth.
Opposition immigration spokeswoman Julia Gillard said the changing of the
guard would achieve little.
"This is a distinction without a difference; this is a sham transfer," she
said.
Group 4 is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. In May, it acquired the
US-based Wackenhut group, the parent company of ACM, but it and Group 4
operate separately in Australia.
"ACM are obviously disappointed that they didn't succeed with the
retender," a spokesman for acting managing director Rodd Millican said.
"It will work with the Government to ensure a smooth transition."
Most of ACM's 500 detention centre employees were on short-term contracts
and may take up employment with the new managers, he said.
Refugee advocate Marion Le said it was no surprise ACM lost the contract.
"It's indicative of the fact that despite the Government's positive
rhetoric . . . and blaming refugees for the problems . . . the Government
has had second thoughts," she said.
"It's obvious to everyone that centre management has been very poor."
Group 4 has 542 employees managing prisons in Victoria and South Australia
and prisoner transport in SA.
It operates in more than 80 countries and has an annual turnover of about
$7.7 billion.
It has managed the Port Phillip Prison in Laverton since August 1997.
In March 1998, rioting broke out among 40 prisoners who also set fire to
one of the accommodation units.
The prison officers' union alleged daily drug overdoses were occurring
among inmates and that up to 100 suicides had been attempted in the first
six months of operation. - AAP
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