Audit finds shortcomings in Home Affairs’ procurement of services for Manus Island Federal The Department of Home Affairs failed to demonstrate value for money for procurements of garrison support and welfare services for an offshore detention centre in… Read more
Premium Insights and analysis Pacific Step-Up should include a welcome mat to COAG for our island neighbours Monday April 6, 2020 By David Morris Editors' Picks Its best intentions notwithstanding, the Pacific Step-Up measures are flawed because of the problems in the Australian government’s relationships with the Pacific. Inviting the neighbours… Read more
Comcare charges Defence over serious workplace injuries; still faces calls to go after Home Affairs Wednesday August 28, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The Department of Defence faces three new charges over workplace health and safety breaches after an investigation by Comcare, but some lawyers continue to wonder… Read more
The government was defeated on the medivac bill, but that does not mean the end of the government Wednesday February 13, 2019 By Anne Twomey News While the houses are under a moral and political obligation to obey the Constitution, this is difficult when the Constitution itself is unclear and its… Read more
Three good old dust-ups from the first day of estimates Tuesday October 24, 2017 By Stephen Easton News As usual there were plenty of dust-ups between the Dorothy Dixers on the first day of the Senate's supplementary estimates hearings yesterday. Here's a run-down… Read more
Comcare befuddled by 'structural complexity' of offshore detention centres Friday May 19, 2017 By Stephen Easton Features Workplace health and safety was a big theme of the latest Senate inquiry into offshore detention. The committee criticised the complex administrative arrangements that have… Read more
Call to rethink offshore detention management after scathing audit Wednesday January 18, 2017 By David Donaldson Foreign Affairs & Immigration Immigration says difficult conditions led to contract and risk management failures outlined in yet another scathing audit. The department needs to rethink its risky and… Read more
Perverse incentives at work in Nauru subcontracting Wednesday August 17, 2016 By David Donaldson Features Fine avoidance strategies in Australia's off-shore detentions aren't a unique problem for DIBP, instead fitting a pattern in privatised prisons. Without monitoring, incidents can create… Read more
Obey 'the boss' or obey the law? The dilemma of detention policy Wednesday February 17, 2016 By Max Costello Features The DIBP secretary raised eyebrows defending the Commonwealth's detention policy. But what if actually implementing it is a crime? A former prosecuting solicitor lays out… Read more
Dangers of detention centres under control, says safety watchdog Thursday July 2, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Comcare's CEO says she's appalled by the latest salvo from its vocal critics over safety in immigration detention centres, based on an FOI release. Soon… Read more
Tony Kevin: a new look at the boat people policy challenge Wednesday June 24, 2015 By Tony Kevin Features Michael Pezzullo, then Customs boss, and former diplomat turned commentator Tony Kevin were harsh critics of each other over SIEV tragedies and the Operation Sovereign… Read more
Agile leadership trumps long service in new Border Protection team Wednesday May 27, 2015 By Stephen Easton News Leadership in the new Department of Immigration and Border Protection — same name; new flavour — requires diverse experience rather than long service, its secretary… Read more
Immigration confirms investigation into Nauru data theft Wednesday October 22, 2014 By Stephen Easton News Immigration officials confirm the theft of highly sensitive data on Nauru is under investigation by the AFP, as well as the Moss inquiry into allegations… Read more
