Poor Staffing Creating Detention Centre Crisis Say LHMU

February 14 2003 - The LHMU Security Union is again calling on the Federal Government to immediately supervise staffing levels at all Six refugee detention centres around Australia.

"Today a security guard was assaulted during the escape at Villawood and he has been taken to Liverpool Hospital," the LHMU Security Union's NSW Secretary, Annie Owens, said today.

"Less than a fortnight ago two union members at the Woomera detention centre were hospitalised after being attacked during an escape by six detainees.

"At the time of the Woomera escape our union warned there are increasing staffing and safety problems at these centres as the current contractor Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) winds down its work in the lead up to a new contractor Group 4 Falck taking over the detention centres.

"So far we have been very, very lucky that no guards were Killed, or horribly maimed, during the breakout at Woomera and now at Villawood,"Annie Owens, said.

"Our union has been raising safety and manning and security issues with both the Federal Government and the US-owned private prison firm ACM for some time now - but no one wants to listen.

"The Federal Government consistently washes its hands of responsibility on this issue saying staff safety is a matter for the centre's operators.

"There is some evidence that ACM management are taking short cuts on staffing, which may be related to bottom-line considerations as they plan to pull out of the centres over the next few weeks and months.

"But our delegates are reporting real safety issues arising now - because of short-staffing. The pattern of reporting suggests that it is tied to ACM winding back its responsibility for running these centres.

"We are concerned that no strategy has been put into place during this hand over period to ensure that security and safety standards are at the highest levels."

The LHMU represents around 130,000 working people throughout Australia