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Thursday, 1 December 2005
Page: 170


Mr Martin Ferguson asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, in writing, on 6 September 2005:

(1)   Has the Minister’s department considered operating and managing the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (IRPC) with Australian Government Protective Services Officers; if not, why not.

(2)   Has the Minister’s department developed a proposal to maximise the provision of services to the IRPC by local business aimed at maximising local employment; if so, what training is being considered to prepare local people, in particular employees of the Christmas Island mine which has a limited life, for the opportunity to undertake such work.


Mr John Cobb (Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) —The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

(1)   No. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) contracts out the management and operation of its immigration detention facilities across Australia. The current Detention Services Provider (DSP), GSL (Australia) Pty Ltd, is contracted until August 2007, following an open tender exercise.

(2)   The recruitment and training of staff and services for the operation of immigration detention facilities is the responsibility of the contracted DSP. However, DIMIA works closely with the DSP and together with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, will be seeking to maximise employment opportunities for Christmas Island residents.