A controversial security contractor for refugees held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has been fined millions by Australia's government
A suicidal refugee is taken to hospital by Paladin security staff. Photo: Shaminda Kanapathi
The Guardian newspaper reported that Paladin had to pay back $US2.1million to the government for thousands of breaches of its performance indicators.
This was revealed in documents produced to Australia's Senate which has been reviewing the company's $US360 million government contract.
Paladin defended itself by blaming the breaches on its "inability to deploy expat personnel" because of PNG government restrictions.
But Australia's government found this was no excuse for failure to deliver training to staff and to meet other requirements.
The Australian Financial Review reported that the unredacted documents released to the Senate showed the breaches were serious.
They include maintenance not performed, poor workplace health and safety, lax perimeter security and regular failures to adequately police those entering and leaving the refugee centres on Manus.
The fines relate to Paladin's breaches between May 2018 and April 2019, but the company is reportedly also facing a further $US5.5 million in fines for July last year.