Transfield Services manages the detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea under contract to the Australian Government. Serious allegations of systemic abuse of detainees including child rape and sexual assault, victimisation of detainees and provision of mould-infested, substandard and unsafe living quarters were made against Transfield Services and staff at the recent Senate Select Committee hearing and independent Moss Inquiry. Despite these allegations, which Transfield has been unable to refute, the company has been granted a new contract to run the detention centres for five years. Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has condemned the granting of the contract.
Transfield has signed a five-year, $88million contract to “provide integrated facilities management and property services” to the UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE. We urge the University to reconsider its decision to award this contract to a company with such a dubious human rights record. Maintaining this contract will imperil the good reputation of the University.