This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/28/transfield-contract-to-operate-manus-and-nauru-extended-by-four-months

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Transfield contract to operate Manus and Nauru extended by four months Transfield contract to operate Manus and Nauru extended by four months
(about 2 hours later)
Transfield Services has signed a four-month extension to its contract with the immigration department to manage Australia’s offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. Protesters have disrupted Transfield Services’ annual general meeting, calling on the company to cut its ties to Australia’s offshore detention centres.
The company made the announcement shortly before Transfield’s annual general meeting began on Wednesday. The extension is a surprise because the company was named as the preferred tenderer for the next four-year contract with the immigration department. Two protesters from Divest from Detention network interrupted Transfield’s chair Diane Smith-Gander’s opening speech to present a letter signed by 844 asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
The company announced shortly before the meeting that it has signed a four-month extension to its contract with the immigration department to manage Australia’s offshore detention centres on the islands.
Smith-Gardner asked the two protesters to leave, and they were escorted out by security guards. A police officer gave one of the protesters, Angela Mitropoulos, a move-on direction and she was ordered to leave the CBD.
Chair @DianeSmithG just faced protests in the Transfield AGM pic.twitter.com/pqWgImSZ4B
“We interrupted with the banner during Diane’s introduction, and she kept personally asking me to leave,” Mitropoulos said. “Then security dragged us out and the police gave me the move on order.
The messages from the group said: “We will continue to target Transfield Services, no matter what, until they stop running detention centres. We will continue to target any detention contractors, as we have done by throwing Transfield Services out of the Sydney Biennale and by chasing them from superannuation funds like Hesta.”
Protesters flanked by police outside Transfield AGM chanting "free free the refugees" pic.twitter.com/udrEduvQ2R
Around 100 other protesters chanted outside the Sydney building the AGM was held in. A heavy police and security presence prevented a number of protesters attempting to enter the meeting. Inside the meeting no recording was allowed.
I have just been informed that no recording is allowed and that I'll be asked to leave if I continue to record. Sorry guys!
Smith-Gander was re-elected to the board of Transfield.
The company announced shortly before the meeting that it has has signed a four-month extension to its contract with the immigration department to manage Australia’s offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
The extension of Transfield’s contract for Manus and Nauru is a surprise because the company was named as the preferred tenderer for the next four-year contract with the immigration department.
Related: Transfield given $1.5bn over three years to manage Nauru and Manus centresRelated: Transfield given $1.5bn over three years to manage Nauru and Manus centres
A statement from the company said: “The deed extends the company’s current contract for a further four month period allowing for the progressive transition to any new contract arrangements entered into by the department of immigration and border protection. Any such new contract is expected to take effect from March 2016.” A statement from the company said: “The deed extends the company’s current contract for a further four month period allowing for the progressive transition to any new contract arrangements entered into by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Any such new contract is expected to take effect from March 2016.”
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has announced a review into procurement and contract procedures on Nauru and Manus Island, due to be tabled in autumn next year.The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has announced a review into procurement and contract procedures on Nauru and Manus Island, due to be tabled in autumn next year.
The No Business in Abuse lobby group – which launched in partnership with GetUp in September – has been working to to persuade investors to put pressure on Transfield over its role managing Australia’s asylum seeker processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island by divesting, and encouraging local businesses not to contract with the company.The No Business in Abuse lobby group – which launched in partnership with GetUp in September – has been working to to persuade investors to put pressure on Transfield over its role managing Australia’s asylum seeker processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island by divesting, and encouraging local businesses not to contract with the company.
On Tuesday it released a report that was highly critical of the company’s involvement with the offshore detention regime.On Tuesday it released a report that was highly critical of the company’s involvement with the offshore detention regime.