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Manus guards use Facebook to ridicule asylum seeker who self-harmed Manus guards use Facebook to ridicule detainee who swallowed nail clippers
(35 minutes later)
Guards at Manus Island processing centre ridiculed and joked about an asylum seeker who swallowed a pair of nail clippers on Christmas Day.Guards at Manus Island processing centre ridiculed and joked about an asylum seeker who swallowed a pair of nail clippers on Christmas Day.
Darren Powell, a supervisor at the facility who works for G4S, the private company hired to run the Manus Island processing facility, posted a Facebook status update on Christmas Day that saw a number of guards weigh in on the topic.Darren Powell, a supervisor at the facility who works for G4S, the private company hired to run the Manus Island processing facility, posted a Facebook status update on Christmas Day that saw a number of guards weigh in on the topic.
“Merry Christmas all. One of these jokers just swallowed a pair of nail clippers. RALMFAO. A Christmas I shall not easily forget,” Powell posted in his publicly accessible profile.“Merry Christmas all. One of these jokers just swallowed a pair of nail clippers. RALMFAO. A Christmas I shall not easily forget,” Powell posted in his publicly accessible profile.
RALMFAO stands for “rolling around laughing my freaking ass off”.RALMFAO stands for “rolling around laughing my freaking ass off”.
A number of other G4S officers “liked” the post, and Manus staff continued to joke about the incident.A number of other G4S officers “liked” the post, and Manus staff continued to joke about the incident.
“I want to be his escort to the shitter when he passes them,” posted Jason Drain, another employee at the centre.“I want to be his escort to the shitter when he passes them,” posted Jason Drain, another employee at the centre.
“Lol so he has finally realised the food is shit,” posted Paul Clear, who is also a G4S employee.“Lol so he has finally realised the food is shit,” posted Paul Clear, who is also a G4S employee.
Powell replied in a later post that “docs think it may take up to a month” for the asylum seeker to pass the clippers.Powell replied in a later post that “docs think it may take up to a month” for the asylum seeker to pass the clippers.
A spokesman for G4S confirmed it would be launching an investigation into the matter.A spokesman for G4S confirmed it would be launching an investigation into the matter.
“G4S is very concerned by reports of recent inappropriate comments on a social media network. We were not previously aware of these allegations,” he said.“G4S is very concerned by reports of recent inappropriate comments on a social media network. We were not previously aware of these allegations,” he said.
“The health, safety and welfare of all those in our care are our highest priority.“The health, safety and welfare of all those in our care are our highest priority.
“The matter will now be investigated and dealt with appropriately according to company policy and the legal requirements of the market in which they are alleged to have occurred.”“The matter will now be investigated and dealt with appropriately according to company policy and the legal requirements of the market in which they are alleged to have occurred.”
The new revelations are embarrassing for the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, who just a day earlier issued a statement touting the Coalition’s improvements and training of service providers at the facility following Guardian Australia’s publication of four months of logs of incidents at the Manus centre.The new revelations are embarrassing for the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, who just a day earlier issued a statement touting the Coalition’s improvements and training of service providers at the facility following Guardian Australia’s publication of four months of logs of incidents at the Manus centre.
“The Australian government has contracted appropriately trained and experienced service providers to ensure transferees’ needs are adequately met, including having appropriate security in place. G4S has been contracted to provide garrison, operational and maintenance services at the Manus OPC,” a spokesman for the minister said on Monday.“The Australian government has contracted appropriately trained and experienced service providers to ensure transferees’ needs are adequately met, including having appropriate security in place. G4S has been contracted to provide garrison, operational and maintenance services at the Manus OPC,” a spokesman for the minister said on Monday.
A spokeswoman for the minister said: “It is completely inappropriate to mock self-harming behaviour.”A spokeswoman for the minister said: “It is completely inappropriate to mock self-harming behaviour.”
She said the immigration department had asked G4S to initiate the investigation and compile a report.She said the immigration department had asked G4S to initiate the investigation and compile a report.
According to his LinkedIn page, Powell is employed as a “supervising officer for operational staff”. His duties include to “ensure that clients are treated with dignity and respect at all times by G4S staff” and to “report immediately an incident which gives rise to concern”. He was an army sergeant for 20 years and also worked as a corrections officer and police officer in Queensland.According to his LinkedIn page, Powell is employed as a “supervising officer for operational staff”. His duties include to “ensure that clients are treated with dignity and respect at all times by G4S staff” and to “report immediately an incident which gives rise to concern”. He was an army sergeant for 20 years and also worked as a corrections officer and police officer in Queensland.
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