Services Provision and Accountability

Provider of services

On 29 June 2009, the department entered into a five-year contract with Serco Australia Pty Ltd to provide services to people in immigration detention centres throughout Australia. A phased transition from the current detention service provider G4S Australia Pty Ltd started from the contract signature date.

On 11 December 2009, the department entered into a five-year contract with Serco Australia Pty Ltd to provide services to people in immigration residential housing and immigration transit accommodation throughout Australia. Transition from the previous detention service provider G4S Australia Pty Ltd was completed in January 2010.

The department signed a contract in January 2009 with International Health and Medical Services Pty Limited (IHMS) to provide general and mental health services to people in immigration detention. Transition from the previous health contracts was completed in May 2009.
See: Detention Services Provider Contract

Review and accountability

Detention services for people in immigration detention are subject to parliamentary scrutiny and accountability. Immigration detention is one of the most closely scrutinised of Government programs.
See: External Scrutiny of Immigration Detention Services

Both the Commonwealth Ombudsman and Parliament are advised every six months on the status of people who have been in immigration detention for two years or more.

There is regular scrutiny by external agencies, such as the:

• Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
• Commonwealth Ombudsman
• United Nations High Commission for Refugees
• Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR).