15 Apr 2014

PNG camp operator assures formal complaint process in place

7:47 pm on 15 April 2014

A spokesperson for the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection says the government takes all allegations against service provider staff seriously.

The statement comes following allegations of serious misconduct and drug abuse among security staff at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

A spokesperson for Transfield Services rejected the drug allegations but confirmed a staff member had been dismissed for serious misconduct after being reported by his peers.

David Jamieson says there is a formal complaints process for asylum seekers which has been in place since Canberra re-opened the centre.

Indira Moala reports.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection says there is an established process for dealing with requests whereby requests or complaints are allocated to appropriate representatives to respond to within defined timeframes. He says the government takes all allegations against service provider staff seriously and says discipline of service provider employees is an internal matter. Transfield's spokesperson says asylum seekers can complain verbally or in writing, which is then assessed by a complaints officer and formally investigated.