Recently, the Paladin controversy has dominated political discussions. The company was contracted to provide security for the refugees detained on Manus Island. The questions at the centre of this debate relate to the conditions under which this contract was made and the ways in which the agreed $423m were spent.

However, all the focus of the media has been directed only at this one company, simply questioning the figure in the contract. For years I have been scrutinising the security companies and medical service providers on Manus. I question why this critical approach to Paladin has only been taken up now and why it is exclusive to one company. The Paladin scandal is only one small part of this issue – hundreds of millions of dollars have been wasted in the detention centres on Manus and Nauru during these years.

There are many companies operating on Manus. Firstly, there is the security company G4S that worked on Manus for a six-month period and then left the island after the riot of February 2014 during which Reza Barati was killed. The Australian Senate inquiry concluded that the company could have managed the riot, and the death and injuries should not have occurred. In relation to Barati’s death there are two individuals who allegedly contributed to this crime – they were guards who are citizens of Australia and New Zealand. They have never faced trial. We need to seriously consider the role of this company in addition to that of the Salvation Army which had the responsibility of providing welfare services inside the prison camp.

After the departure of G4S and the Salvation Army a contract was made with Transfield to replace them. This company changed its name to Broadspectrum, obviously in order to save their reputation and avoid being seen as a company that once managed the Manus Island prison camp. Transfield (Broadspectrum) had the responsibility to provide food and other welfare services in the prison; however, they also operated in minor ways with the company Wilson.

Wilson took over the same responsibilities that were previously supposed to be carried out by G4S. The company had a major role in suppressing the hunger strike involving 800 refugees during January 2015. And Wilson guards allegedly drugged and raped a Papua New Guinean woman in the same year.

In November 2017 Broadspectrum and Wilson left Manus Island. Their departure was at the beginning of the 23-day siege which left refugees without water and food. The vacant contracts were practically all local. The largest contract was given to Paladin.

Paladin pocketed a handsome $423m. But it has been claimed that they do not fulfil any duties other than employ 500 locals who assert to be underpaid, with no risk allowances added to the rates of $2-$3 an hour, or overtime paid for shifts of up to 12 hours. The locals either play cards under the tents inside the prison camp or sit in groups of 10 in front of the prison gates while checking the coming and going of refugees.

On Manus Island the police have a duty to ensure the safety of refugees when they are in Lorengau town – Paladin have nothing to do with that.

In recent days when the Paladin contract scandal broke, the locals became extremely angry. During the last year the local staff wrote numerous letters to Paladin complaining about their low wages, and they also protested. They tried to pressure Paladin into increasing their salaries to a decent rate.

A series of smaller companies such as JDA, Kingfisher and KNW also work within the Manus Island detention industry. They only occupy very specific responsibilities such as transportation and providing food.

However, from all the companies working on Manus during these years it is International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) that has the worst record. This company played a central role in the death of Hamid Khazaei and a few others who were killed over the years. This medical services company has been operating on Manus for four-and-a-half years – throughout this time a number of refugees have lost their lives due to medical neglect. They have a series of rooms at their disposal from which they issue painkillers to dozens of sick refugees, or their psychologists prescribe sleeping tablets and medicine for psychological conditions. IHMS still operates on Nauru.

PIH is a medical services company that took over from IHMS in November 2017. I have already detailed how they play with the health of refugees. They employ the same approach that IHMS had been implementing for years. Their strategy involves nothing more than issuing painkillers and referring refugees mainly to the public hospital in Lorengau – which is just a decrepit building with no real use.

The hospital is closed one day a week and during the days it is open it only operates until 4pm and refuses emergency cases after this time. The PIH site does not have the most rudimentary of medical facilities, and they do not have the capability to perform the most basic surgery.

During these years the Australian government has always used propaganda to influence public opinion and prove that they have been providing refugees with welfare and medical services. However, what they portray in the media is in stark contrast with the reality on Manus and Nauru. The most convincing evidence we can use to justify this accusation is the deaths of 12 individuals. The only things these companies have achieved during these years has been to assist immigration in torturing refugees psychologically and emotionally. They have not only withheld services from refugees but have in fact been a significant element in a system aimed at stripping people of their humanity and afflicting suffering.

The Paladin scandal is only a drop in the ocean of corruption. The bigger picture has yet to be exposed. If there is an independent and comprehensive investigation into these companies in future we may very well witness on of the greatest scandals in Australia’s history.

Every company working on Manus and Nauru throughout these years have been instruments of oppression and subjugation for the department of immigration. What needs to be investigated is not only the financial agreements with companies and the manner of spending taxpayer’s dollars, but also the many obvious human rights violations. What is clear is that when a political institution acts covertly on a remote island they create the conditions for corruption and human rights abuses.

• Behrouz Boochani is a journalist and an Iranian refugee held on Manus Island. Translated by Omid Tofighian, American University in Cairo/University of Sydney