Manus Island riot: G4S chief rejects suggestion company invited PNG police into detention centre

Updated

The head of the security company that was in charge of the Manus Island detention centre during February's fatal riot has strongly rejected suggestions it invited Papua New Guinea police inside the fence.

A 23-year-old Iranian man, Reza Barati, died and dozens of others were injured during two nights of violence at the centre.

During the riot, PNG police broke down the fence and began shooting.

The contractor that ran the centre, G4S, told an inquiry that the police action was "unexpected and unforseeable".

But a secret recording of a G4S security briefing on Manus Island in January, obtained by the ABC, suggests that plans were in place to hand control over to the mobile police squad in the event of a major incident.

However, the company's Chris Manning told the 7.30 program on Tuesday that is not true.

"I would emphatically deny that that took place," he said.

"The G4S had no authority to hand over any part of that centre that night. That authority rests with the PNG immigration authority."

He said there was a "draft protocol for the joint management of incidents" that had been passed to police for consideration, but that nothing had been agreed to.

"We had not had a response - it had been with them for some time, and indeed PNG Immigration," he said.

Mr Manning also said it is not yet appropriate to take action against G4S staff alleged to have been involved in the violence given police investigations are continuing.

"When we know who was definitely involved and who has been taken through the criminal justice system, then of course - if it's still appropriate - we will take the appropriate action."

G4S assessment downplayed external risk to centre: report

Mr Manning's comments came after revelations a G4S intelligence assessment of the centre on the day Mr Barati was killed downplayed any "external risk" to the centre.

In a February 17 report, obtained by the ABC, the external threat was given a "green" rating, the lowest possible level.

This meant the external risk to the centre was judged by the security firm to be calm, with limited potential for protest or violent unrest, with no intelligence suggesting such behaviour was imminent.

However, it was only the previous evening that dozens of asylum seekers were injured after an escape attempt led to them being violently apprehended by local G4S staff and PNG nationals.

One asylum seeker had his throat cut in the violence on February 16.

The following night, local G4S staff and other PNG nationals entered the centre and attacked asylum seekers, according to the government-commissioned review by former secretary of the Attorney-General's department, Robert Cornall.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison handed down the review on Monday.

It detailed events at the centre between February 16 and 18 and indentified a Salvation Army worker as allegedly leading the fatal attack on Mr Barati.

Mr Morrison said on Monday the riots represented a "terrible, tragic and distressing series of incidents that involved serious and indeed a fatal act of violence".

But he said if the asylum seekers had not started the violent protests, Mr Barati would still be alive.

"There would have been no incident that night had there been no protests, I think that's clear to say, but the protests in no way could ever justify what happened to Mr Barati or the other serious violent acts perpetrated on that night, under no circumstances in my view could that ever justify what happened," he said.

Imagery: Aerial view of Manus Island Regional Processing Centre taken on March 2, 2014. (DigitalGlobe)

Topics: immigration, refugees, government-and-politics, australia

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