Australia’s new onshore immigration detention operator, Management & Training Corporation (MTC), is facing serious accusations from workers and their union of unsafe and “deliberate” understaffing, leading to an increase in critical incidents within the centres. The allegations have prompted a rare public response from the Australian government, acknowledging “concerns” about its primary immigration detention contractor and indicating discussions with the company.
MTC, a US-based private prison company known for its role in the US immigration crackdown, took over the management of Australia’s onshore detention network in March 2025 through its subsidiary, Secure Journeys. The company secured a $2.3 billion contract in late 2024, succeeding the previous provider, Serco. Additionally, MTC is contracted to manage the detention of 100 individuals on Nauru for $790 million.
Concerns Over Staffing and Safety
The United Workers Union (UWU), representing workers in these centres, alleges that MTC’s business model prioritizes lower staffing levels and flexibility over safety. This has reportedly led to a significant drop in morale among employees, who were already disheartened under Serco’s management. “Morale was at an all-time low with Serco, and now it’s lower than that,” stated Godfrey Moase, executive director of allied industries at the UWU.
The union claims that onerous roster patterns and payroll issues are driving workers to exhaustion, leading to a high turnover rate. According to UWU estimates, the workforce across the network has dwindled to about 1,000 by late 2025, down from approximately 1,900 in 2023. These staffing issues are reportedly most severe in the largest and highest-risk centres.
“They are running it like a prison,” said John*, a detention service officer at Brisbane Immigration Detention Centre.
Escalating Incidents and Safety Concerns
SafeWork NSW has conducted multiple visits to the Villawood centre since MTC took over, responding to three workplace incidents and five requests for service related to worker health and safety. Simon*, a detention service officer at Villawood, noted a significant reduction in staff numbers and questioned the adequacy of training for new officers, who undergo a five-day bridging course.
The death of a detainee at Villawood in January, where a fellow detainee was charged with murder, has exacerbated employee apprehension. Other incidents include assaults on security officers at Yongah Hill and Melbourne Immigration Detention Centres, highlighting the escalating violence within these facilities.
As of June 30, 2025, there was a rate of 59 critical incidents per 1,000 detainees, a stark increase from 27.84 per 1,000 in the previous year, according to the Home Affairs 2024–25 annual report.
Impact on Detainees and Broader Implications
Those detained have also noted the reduced staffing levels. Michael*, a detainee at Yongah Hill, observed a decline in the number of officers and activity opportunities, which he says contributes to the monotony and potential safety risks. “We had twice as many activities under Serco,” he remarked.
There are reports of staff from Parklea, a private prison managed by MTC for Corrective Services NSW, being seconded to immigration detention centres, raising concerns about the adequacy of training and the approach to detainee management. Greens senator David Shoebridge criticized MTC for prioritizing profits over safety, suggesting that the contracts should be terminated.
“MTC won’t safely staff these centres and this means the contracts should be terminated and the centres should be closed,” he claimed.
John, a detention service officer, highlighted the serious safety and security breaches since MTC took over, citing multiple escapes and assaults on staff due to being outnumbered. “It not only compromises the safety of staff, it compromises the safety of detainees that we look after every day,” he said.
MTC and Secure Journeys declined to respond to questions regarding these allegations.
The situation at Australia’s immigration detention centres underscores the complex challenges of balancing operational efficiency with the safety and well-being of both staff and detainees. As the debate continues, the Australian government and stakeholders are under pressure to ensure these facilities operate safely and humanely.
