Villawood Immigration Detention Centre Conditions Deteriorate Under Private Company

Staff at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in south-west Sydney have reported a deterioration in conditions for both staff and detainees under the management of private company Secure Journeys. The company was awarded a $2.3 billion contract to run Australia's immigration detention centre network.

Rise in Incidents

New data obtained under freedom of information laws reveals a significant increase in incidents at immigration detention centres. In March last year, there were 793 incidents recorded across the centres, which rose to over 1,600 incidents by May this year. These incidents include self-harm, serious assault, and possession of weapons.

Workers at the Villawood centre attributed the rise in incidents to understaffing, with one long-term employee estimating that there were about 150 fewer staff than under the previous provider, Serco.

"There's no change in the cohort, no change in the numbers, no change in the facility," he said. "The only change is the uniform."

A second long-term employee described the environment as "very unsafe" and noted that roster changes had contributed to the increase in volatility.

"The volatility in this place has definitely risen from the last service provider to the [current] service provider," he said.

Watchdog Report

A recent report by the Commonwealth National Preventive Mechanism found that the "security situation was not being managed effectively" at Villawood, citing "insufficient staffing" as a key concern. The report also highlighted the potential presence of shivs, the "seemingly free movement" of drugs, and safety concerns.

"I consider that the matters observed by monitors at the [Villawood Immigration Detention Centre] require urgent consideration and, to the extent possible, remedial action, to ensure the safety of both people in detention and staff and to maintain the good order of the facility," the report said.

The Commonwealth National Preventive Mechanism visited Villawood again in September and reported no improvement.

Union Concerns

The United Workers Union is in enterprise bargaining negotiations with Secure Journeys, with the company's last offer voted down by 92 per cent of eligible workers. The union estimates that there are 900 fewer workers across all centres.

"The officers are looking at, 'If I'm getting abused and I'm getting attacked whenever there is an opportunity, then I'm going to look where I'm safe, and where I'm better paid,'" union lead organiser Surya Nagulapalli said.

Increased Use of Handcuffs

The data also showed a rise in the planned use of force, which detainee advocates attributed to an increased use of handcuffs. Sisters Inside deportation advocate Marianne van Galen Dickie criticised the excessive use of handcuffs, saying that her clients had described handcuffs as a "standard thing".

"This is meant to be administrative detention, not prison," Dr van Galen Dickie said. "It's meant to be non-punitive, it's meant to be very different to prison, and yet it's harsher in a lot of ways than prison."

Refugee Advice and Casework Service supervising senior solicitor Ahmad Sawan noted that inadequate services within the centres and government policies had likely contributed to the rise in incidents.

"An increased rate of incidents in detention does not happen in a vacuum," Mr Sawan said.