Attempts to contact Lateline

Letter to the Producer - Lateline, ABC Television
6 May 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

This afternoon Lateline asked the Department if it would comment on non-specific allegations of medical negligence apparently lodged with the NSW Healthcare Complaints Commission about the Detention Services Provider, Australasian Correctional Management.

This Department takes very seriously any allegations in respect of the detention program - the provision of services in detention or treatment of detainees - and where possible provides information and responses to such claims raised in the media.

The Department attempted to phone Lateline back leaving messages on its answering machine requesting detailed information on the allegations - as at close of business your journalist had failed to return the calls. As such the Department was not able to provide any comment on this issue.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA