The Albanese Government’s recent decision to award a $2.3 billion contract to U.S.-based private prison operator Management and Training Corporation (MTC) for managing Australia’s immigration detention system has raised serious ethical and legal questions. Despite MTC’s documented history of abuse and neglect in the United States, the government has chosen to continue relying on private contractors to manage onshore immigration detention, in direct contrast to its previous promises of government-run facilities.
This five-year contract, which follows the $422 million agreement signed in January 2023 for the management of offshore detention on Nauru, is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to private-sector involvement in the country’s immigration detention system. However, it has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, legal professionals, and the general public, who argue that such a move undermines promises of reform and humane treatment in detention.
MTC, the third-largest private prison operator in the United States, has a long and troubling track record of abuses at its detention facilities. These include serious allegations of medical neglect, excessive use of solitary confinement, violent incidents, and substandard living conditions for detainees. Despite this history of failures, the Albanese Government has awarded the company control over Australia’s onshore detention system, including the provision of welfare services for detainees.
Legal experts and human rights groups are calling on the government to reconsider its decision and abandon the use of private prison operators in favor of a more transparent and accountable system that prioritizes the well-being of detainees.
The decision comes at a time when public scrutiny of Australia’s immigration detention system is mounting, with increasing calls for reforms that would ensure more humane and transparent practices. Advocates argue that by continuing to rely on private companies like MTC, the government is perpetuating a system of harm and mistreatment that disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals who are already experiencing significant hardship.
Currently, 989 people remain in immigration detention across Australia, with the average detention period exceeding 495 days. The awarding of this contract to MTC has raised concerns about the potential for further prolonged detention and the worsening of detainee conditions, including mental health impacts, under a profit-driven system.
The Albanese Government has repeatedly stated its commitment to reforming Australia’s immigration detention system, with the Prime Minister previously assuring the public that detention would occur in government-run facilities. This new contract with MTC, however, directly contradicts those assurances and signals a departure from the government’s stated goals of ending for-profit detention and improving the treatment of detainees.
Jana Favero, Deputy CEO of ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre), expressed her deep concern over the decision:
“The end of the current contract was an opportunity for the Albanese Government to honor its clear 2023 platform promise that detention would be government-run. Instead, they have chosen to continue funding a system of harm, backed by a private for-profit company with a troubling track record.” Favero emphasized that the decision to award the contract to MTC represents a major setback for Australia’s immigration detention system and called for an immediate review of the contract, alongside the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into immigration detention practices.
Catherine Holbeche, Acting Principal Solicitor for the ASRC’s Human Rights Law Program, also expressed concern:
“The government has a non-delegable duty of care to those in its custody, and that responsibility cannot be outsourced to private operators like MTC. Our clients have faced significant hardships in detention, and private operators like MTC, with their focus on profit over people, are ill-equipped to offer the safety, dignity, and support that people seeking asylum deserve.” Holbeche argued that the government must not rely on a company with such a problematic history to manage Australia’s detention network.
As the debate over the contract intensifies, advocates are calling on the Albanese Government to reverse course and end its reliance on private companies to manage immigration detention. They are urging the government to honor its commitment to reform, ensure greater transparency, and adopt a system that puts the safety, dignity, and rights of detainees at the forefront.
“We call on the government to honor its commitment and end the use of private companies in detention, starting with the review of this contract,” said Favero. “The human cost of this decision cannot be overstated.”
The growingpublic outcry surrounding the decision signals a critical moment for Australian immigration policy, one that could have far-reaching consequences for both detainees and the broader public’s trust in the government’s handling of immigration issues.
Read more: