Workers at Australia’s immigration detention centres have accused the company operating the facilities of dangerously understaffing sites across the country, warning that safety risks for both staff and detainees have increased since the contractor took over the network.
The United States-based private prison operator Management & Training Corporation began managing Australia’s onshore immigration detention system in March 2025 through its local subsidiary Secure Journeys.
The company replaced the previous contractor Serco under a government agreement valued at approximately $2.3 billion.
Union representatives and staff working inside the facilities say staffing levels have been significantly reduced since the transition.
The United Workers Union estimates the workforce across the detention network has fallen from about 1,900 employees in 2023 to roughly 1,000 workers by late 2025.
Godfrey Moase, executive director of allied industries at the union, said morale among employees had deteriorated as staffing shortages increased.
“Morale was at an all-time low with Serco, and now it’s lower than that,” Moase said.
Staff working at several detention facilities claim compounds that previously required four officers are now often run by two workers or even a single officer during overnight shifts.
One detention service officer based at the Brisbane Immigration Detention Centre said the reduced staffing levels were creating unsafe conditions.
“They are running it like a prison,” the worker said.
“Overnight there are compounds with only one staff member, which is absolutely unsafe.”
Australia’s onshore immigration detention network includes facilities such as Villawood in Sydney, Yongah Hill in Western Australia and the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre.
SafeWork NSW confirmed it has visited the Villawood centre multiple times since March 2025 and has been notified of several workplace incidents.
The regulator said it had received reports of three incidents and five workplace health and safety complaints related to the facility.
Recent violent incidents have heightened concerns among staff.
In January, a detainee died at Villawood after an alleged assault, with another detainee charged with murder.
In December, authorities charged a detainee following an alleged assault on security officers at Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, while another incident occurred at the Melbourne facility in August.
Government data also suggests that serious incidents across the detention system have increased.
According to the Department of Home Affairs annual report for 2024–25, the rate of critical incidents rose to 59 per 1,000 detainees, more than double the 27.84 incidents recorded in the previous reporting period.
Reports of sexual assault incidents also increased, rising from 19 cases in 2023–24 to 30 incidents in the following year.
The Department of Home Affairs said detention service providers must comply with strict contractual staffing and safety requirements.
An Australian Border Force spokesperson said the department was aware of concerns about staffing levels and had raised the issue with the company.
The spokesperson said the government continues to work with Secure Journeys to ensure facilities are appropriately staffed and operate safely.
Critics of Australia’s immigration detention system argue the problems highlight broader concerns about outsourcing detention management to private companies.
Greens senator David Shoebridge said privatising immigration detention increased the risk of harm to detainees and workers.
“Putting vulnerable people into mandatory detention always creates a risk of harm,” he said.
“When you add privatisation into the mix it guarantees it.”
Management & Training Corporation and Secure Journeys declined to respond to questions about the allegations.
