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Immigration detention centre services should be reduced, audit report says Immigration detention centre services should be reduced, audit report says
(4 months later)
The government should reduce services inside immigration detention centres and renegotiate contracts with private firms in order to curb the cost of detaining asylum seekers, according to the commission of audit report released on Thursday.The government should reduce services inside immigration detention centres and renegotiate contracts with private firms in order to curb the cost of detaining asylum seekers, according to the commission of audit report released on Thursday.
The report describes the mandatory detention of asylum seekers as “the fastest-growing government program over recent years”, noting its cost has shot from $118.4m in 2009-10 to $3.3bn in 2013-14. It forecasts that detention costs will exceed $10bn over the course of the current government.The report describes the mandatory detention of asylum seekers as “the fastest-growing government program over recent years”, noting its cost has shot from $118.4m in 2009-10 to $3.3bn in 2013-14. It forecasts that detention costs will exceed $10bn over the course of the current government.
It currently costs $239,000 a year to keep one asylum seeker detained in Australia and more than $400,000 to detain an asylum seeker in offshore detention. It costs less than $100,000 a year to hold an asylum seeker in community detention and less than $50,000 to hold them on a bridging visa.It currently costs $239,000 a year to keep one asylum seeker detained in Australia and more than $400,000 to detain an asylum seeker in offshore detention. It costs less than $100,000 a year to hold an asylum seeker in community detention and less than $50,000 to hold them on a bridging visa.
Despite this, the number of asylum seekers held offshore has surged since the introduction of mandatory offshore processing, with more than 2,000 people currently held on Papua New Guinea or Nauru. Despite this, the number of asylum seekers held offshore has surged since the introduction of mandatory offshore processing, with more than 2,000 people currently held on Papua New Guinea or Nauru.
The Coalition government has already renegotiated a number of significant offshore detention contracts, including the humanitarian services contract with the Salvation Army and management services with security company G4S. Both were handed to Transfield Services in a deal believed to be worth $1.2bn over 20 months.The Coalition government has already renegotiated a number of significant offshore detention contracts, including the humanitarian services contract with the Salvation Army and management services with security company G4S. Both were handed to Transfield Services in a deal believed to be worth $1.2bn over 20 months.
The government has also pledged to close four onshore detention centres.The government has also pledged to close four onshore detention centres.
The audit report says that the rising cost in detaining asylum seekers is partly attributable to the surge in arrival numbers, but adds that “in some cases, reductions in the services provided to people in detention” is recommended.The audit report says that the rising cost in detaining asylum seekers is partly attributable to the surge in arrival numbers, but adds that “in some cases, reductions in the services provided to people in detention” is recommended.
It recommends an audit of the scope and cost of services offered to asylum seekers in detention.It recommends an audit of the scope and cost of services offered to asylum seekers in detention.