Security firm G4S says it warned Australian Government PNG police were unreliable, unpredictable ahead of Manus Island riot

Updated

Security firm G4S has revealed it warned the Australian Government that Papua New Guinea police were unreliable and unpredictable in the days leading up to the deadly Manus Island detention centre riot.

Local officers reportedly fired dozens of shots during violent clashes at the centre in February.

One man, 23-year-old Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati, was killed and dozens more were injured.

In its submission to a Senate inquiry - a briefing note addressed to government officials and dated February 4 - G4S says tension had been growing at the centre for weeks over the extreme delays in processing claims and the lack of information being given to detainees.

"As of Thursday 30 January, G4S intelligence officers have come to believe a major event (pushing down fences, setting fires) may be planned for February 4, 5 or 6," the briefing note states.

"We would be failing in our duty if we did not bring this to your attention, given the strategic nature of the Manus Island facility to the Government's Border Protection Policy."

The company says it told the Immigration Department the situation could be easily defused by giving asylum seekers more information.

"The key theme from the messaging from these [recent] protests is that they understand that they will not to go to Australia now and that they will be returned home or resettled in PNG," the briefing note states.

"However, there is no processing for Refugee Status Determination taking place.

"This situation is similar to that which prevailed in terms of stalled processing and general frustration with over-crowding on Christmas Island in March 2011 prior to a breakdown of order there.

"In short, it is our view that the situation could be easily defused if transferees can be provided reassurance on timelines for processing of their claims and if PNG ICSA (Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority) commenced processing claims again."

It also says it told the department in early February it was preparing for violent protests, in conjunction with the PNG police, but warned the local force was an unknown quantity and may resort to gas and firearms if provoked.

"They have not proved reliable in the past, and our concern is that they may resort to gas and then firearms if they are provoked," the briefing note states.

"In short, they are an unknown quantity in a serious incident."

In March, a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said there were three investigations underway into the Manus Island incident, including a full independent inquiry headed by former senior public servant Robert Cornall.

Topics: immigration, law-crime-and-justice, death, unrest-conflict-and-war, australia, papua-new-guinea

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