The Greens are campaigning to get rid of Wilson Security. The campaign has got a lot to be said for it, not least Peter Dutton’s dismal performance on PM on 7 April, during which he conspicuously refused to answer questions on the issue, instead taking shelter behind slogans and set-piece speeches.
Wilson guards operate at Manus and Nauru detention centres. Have alook at how they behave:
Don’t forget: this is an Australian company, paid by Australia, to “protect” innocent people who fled to Australia to find safety.
Don’t forget, Reza Berati was killed in Manus while being abused by Wilson guards.
Don’t forget that Benham Satah, the main eye-witness to the murder of Reza Berati, was beaten up by Wilson guards in order to get him to withdraw his witness sstatement.
Don’t forget, Wilson Security hides its operations in a tax shelter, as revealed by the Panama Papers.
The Greens’campaign reads like this:
Wilson Security is rotten to the core, and the government knows it.
On Monday, the Australian security company was linked to dodgy offshore affairs which were exposed in the ‘Panama Papers’ leak.
Today, it was revealed that the government is “reviewing” Wilson’s multi-million dollar contracts with the offshore detention centres.
Things are changing, but not fast enough.
Just last night, allegations emerged that Wilson Security guards were hitting and kicking children in the detention camp on Nauru, with video surfacing of one frightened child yelling “They are hitting us”.
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It’s more important than ever that we keep the pressure up and demand a better way for people seeking asylum.
Wilson Security should be stripped of their contracts now and the government should get on with closing the camps on Manus Island and Nauru.
I’m not a member of the Greens, or of any political party, but I agree with what the Greens are saying on this.
Fleeing a country filled with war, is not a crime. These people held in these conditions is a crime against humanity. Even when countries like New Zealand said they would take some, Australia has refused to let them go to New Zealand. This LNP government do not have one humanitarian bone in their body. They are willing to pay thugs like Wilson Security billlions of tax-payers money to treat these people in dreadful living conditions which for those incarcerated, has no end date of their detention, for no crimes committed. Australians are ashamed of their government’s treatment of these poor poor people.
The alleged mis-treatment and abuse of people forced to live in the gulag of Australian refugee detention centres, especially those on Nauru and Manus Island, breach every rule of the United Nations Human Rights and Refugee Conventions. Australia is criminally liable for this brutal and inhumane regime carried out by Wilson Security and Transfield staff, as ordered by the Minister, Peter Dutton and the LNP government. It must stop, in the name of humanity. This obscene policy must be overturned. I am sick at the thought of what is being done in my name as an Australian citizen. It must be stopped.
I worked on Manus, Simply the most inhumane position I have ever filled, #itstime to close both Islands, you don’t treat human beings like this, they just want to live like the rest of us, free from war and persecution.
i am appalled at our treatment of refugees and having them locked in brutal facilities like this … concentration camps run by inhumane staff and management … all approved of by the Minister and our Government … this is Australia now? … how utterly pathetic …
It is time that this company is brought to a halt in places where people are being denied their right to asylum. Australia deserves better than this. Asylum seekers deserve better than this.
End this madness! Sack Dutton. Terminate Wilson Security’s contract immediately. Grant those poor people amnesty. Shut those camps. Never, ever do it again. These people will now need so much help to recover from what they have been through. Crazy government, crazy policies based on inhumane, racist and bigoted views of the world. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.
How can this happen in Australia, I am absolutely disgusted and fear for what we are becoming or not we some of us and those in .power who are writing up these policies and enforcing them. If Wilson is an Australian company lets find out what other business interests they have and boycott them. This situation needs to be recognised and rectified as soon as possible, never ever thought that Australia would be the perpetrators of violence especially against women and children and expect people to live in situations where they are scared, not receiving proper care and treating everyone worse than any abused animal. This has to stop NOW don’t know how but it has to how can any country have this on their conscious.
While asylum seekers are being locked on overcrowded cages on spurious grounds nothing the Government does it other fieldsl is of interest to me. My top priority is to close these black concentration camps and rehabilitate them here.
I too am not a member of a political party but believe The Greens are right on this one. We teach our children to be responsible for their actions and face up to the consequences, so too should the Govt. and Wilson Security
Yes in regard to Dutton’s interview on PM.
Dutton’s assertion that adults assaulted and injured security personnel is a blatant lie. No adults were involved in the incident, rather 7 under-age teenagers and one 18 year old girl were involved. Dutton would be well advised of this. The only adults involved were the parents being held back by Wilson’s staff from helping their children.
Further, in their statements, all seven boys confess to throwing chairs at the wall, but not at staff. The 18 year old girl who was present, witnessed this and did not take any action but was thrown against a wall by security.
Dutton seems to be using the fact that 2 adult asylum seekers were taken to IHMS during the evening to imply that they were involved physically in the affray. In actual fact, both adults referred to IHMS that evening were mothers of teenage boys that were assaulted. One had a panic attack and passed out, the other mother drank washing liquid.
Dutton also stated in the interview that “People will go back to their countries of origin because these people are not found to be refugees, they are seeking protection – they’ve been found not to be refugees..”. This is another untruth as most of those remaining in RPC3 have not had their refugee applications processed. There is a small percentage remaining in camp who have had negative Refugee Status Determinations, the remainder, after 3 years, are yet to be processed. Even when referring to those outside the community, thus refugees, Dutton still reiterates their option to go home. If they have been found to be refugees, this is not an option.
Also regarding the “Open Centre” misnomer, Dutton claims “There are 50 children living within the regional processing centre. It is a 24-7 open arrangement, people can go out into the community. There are hundreds of people who are employed in local businesses, involved in activities on Nauru.” This is a deliberate confusion of the facts. Asylum seekers within the centre are not permitted to work, are not permitted access to money (even though they may have money stored in Property, confiscated when they were detained), are not permitted smart phones, and are not permitted to take any food out of the camp. Those working in the Nauruan community are refugees who do not reside in the RPCs and are by no means in the 100’s.
Regarding the use of the word “garrison” services, Dutton would be well versed in its usage as it is used in the tendering and contract process for services on Nauru. The tender and contract stipulate the provision of “garrison” services and Wilson’s has always been referred to as the garrison service provider.
It is very frustrating hearing someone lament the “peddling of misinformation” in the same interview in which blatant untruths are willingly and knowingly espoused.
Quite apart form the humanitarian argument for closing offshore detention down, which is in itself compelling, the cost to the Australian Taxpayer of keeping these poor wretches in squalor is eyewateringly expensive and cannot be justified.
Shameful abuse of humam rights paid for by the Australian Government. We elect the Government. It is accountable to us, the people. We say NO MORE! Not in our name!
Australia used to be a humanitarian society.We have become afraid of people who have fled desperate situatios seeking safety, and we don’t regard them as human like us, and want them locked up. The Christians among us – what would Christ have said about Wilson Security and the plight of refugees?