Group 4 To Manage Immigration Detention Facilities
Media Release - DPS 57/2003
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) today signed a contract with Group 4 Falck Global Solutions Pty Ltd (Group 4) for the management of facilities and services at immigration detention centres around Australia.
The new contract will govern the delivery of detention services in Australia on behalf of the Australian Government for the next four years.
While the new contract begins immediately Australasian Correctional Management will continue to manage the centres until a phased hand-over to Group 4 begins later this year.
Group 4 will provide a comprehensive range of services including health, education, recreation and security programs, as well as facilities management.
Group 4 has experience in managing immigration detention facilities for the British Government. Since the mid-nineties the company has managed private prisons for the Victorian and South Australian governments as well as providing security and custodial escorts, in-court management services, non-emergency medical transport and home detention services.
The signing of the contract marks the end of a rigorous tender process which entailed a major review of the Immigration Detention Standards, incorporating recommendations of various bodies such as the Immigration Detention Advisory Group (IDAG) and reports such as the Flood and Ombudsman's reports.
The new contract includes changes to Departmental requirements and stronger mechanisms for the management of detention services in Australia.
The public version of the contract and the Immigration Detention Standards will shortly be available via the Department's website <www.immi.gov.au>.
The Department recognises the work undertaken by Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) in the management of its immigration detention facilities over the last six years and acknowledges the commitment of ACM staff to this challenging work and ACM's continued cooperation in the transition process.
27 August 2003
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