My following investigation appeared in Crikey this week: The drive from Broome in Western Australia to Derby, the town closest to the remote Curtin detention centre in the Kimberley, is two-and-a-half hours through endless, surprisingly green desert. Mobile phone reception soon dies after the journey begins and from there you see few people or cars…
Showing all posts tagged Australia
Woodside in the Kimberley; Exploitation Inc
My following investigation appears in today’s Crikey: When West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said recently that he welcomed the announcement of a permanent US military presence in northern Australia, his words were worth considering in a wider context. “We have a large open expanse in northern Australia, we are near one of the most troubled…
Disaster capitalism photo collection
I’ve spent the last 3 weeks in Western Australia and Christmas Island researching a book and other projects on disaster capitalism (overseas travels planned in 2012). I investigated the role of Serco in remote detention centres, Woodside attempting to develop a multi-billion dollar gas hub in the Kimberley and a tropical paradise being used for…
Serco, we have a problem
Yet more evidence that the British multinational Serco, running Australia’s detention centres, simply aren’t up to the task. But don’t expect the government to do anything about it any time soon. They need somebody, anybody, to take the blame for its dysfunctional refugee policies (via The Age): The multinational company that runs Australia’s immigration detention…
Getting inside the head of Julian Assange
My following book review appeared in yesterday’s Sydney Sun Herald: Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography Julian Assange (Text, $29.95) This is unlike any book you’ve ever read. Take one of the most recognisable figures in the world, sit him down for hours of interviews and sign a multimillion-dollar contract to publish an authorised autobiography. Talk…
That’s right, Murdoch, BDS isn’t anti-Semitic
The following Press Council decision appears in today’s Murdoch Australian newspaper: The Australian Press Council has considered complaints by Dale Mills and Vivienne Porzsolt about headlines on articles in The Australian on July 28, this year related to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign that is aimed at businesses associated with Israel. One complaint related…
Government rules; how the Australian immigration department treats us with contempt
Following last week’s exclusive in New Matilda publishing the British multinational Serco immigration detention contract with the Australian government, the Immigration Department was asked a range of questions. This is how they responded (thanks to Marni Cordell and Paul Farrell): We asked DIAC for comment on their contract with Serco and how it serves the…
Never expect Serco to treat staff well (it’s in the contract)
What a surprise: Security guards working at the Pontville detention centre [in Tasmania] say they have been sacked in a shock move by operator Serco. Devastated security staff contacted the Mercury yesterday, saying they had been told their services were no longer required because Serco would rely on security cameras for external surveillance. Therese Mitchell…
What released Serco contract says about Australian government’s lack of standards
Following… our world exclusive revelations yesterday about the Serco contract with the Australian government (stories here,… here and here), last night ABC Radio’s PM featured an interview with the editor of the independent publication that ran the articles, New Matilda: MARK COLVIN: The news website New Matilda has obtained the contracts under which the private company SERCO…