The US private prison company running Australian immigration detention centres was slapped with penalties by the Australian government after allowing a dozen escapes, but the head of the Australian Border Force has declined to reveal the cost of the punishment.
MTC signed a $2.3bn contract to run Australia’s onshore immigration detention network from early 2025.
Guardian Australia revealed serious incidents including detainees missing medical appointments because MTC lacks the staff to escort them to health centres, two MTC staff members being admitted to hospital with smoke inhalation after trying to rescue an unconscious detainee from a fire, more than 12 escapes from MTC facilities (several during transport and escort operations), and a risk assessment system federal work safety regulator Comcare warned was putting staff at serious risk of violence.