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Issue No. 294 | 10 February 2006 |
Total Impact
Interview: Court's in Session Industrial: Whose Choices? Politics: Peter's Principles Environment: TINA or Greener? History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons International: US Locks out Jose' Bove Education: No AWA - No Job Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man Review: Charlie the Serf
Capital Punishment on the Menu Unfair Sackings Face Challenge Holden's Bad Deal for Adelaide STOP PRESS: Guest Worker Plan Goes to Water Taking a Punt on Melbourne Cup Newcastle Rails Against Contracts Free Enterprise Kills Hundreds
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
Belated Merry Whatmas? The Grinch Who Stole Christmas I Think Therefore I Scam A Taxing Answer Leslie John Turner
Labor Council of NSW |
News Slave Contractors Sprung
In a case currently before the Supreme court, Alan Clifton, a former operations manager at Woomera detention centre, gave evidence of Australasian Correctional Management paying detainees the equivalent of $1 an hour to work in the kitchens, despite being contracted to supply enough properly paid staff of ots own. The revelation follows confirmation by the Department of Immigration that around 20 detainees in Villawood detention centre were being used as cheap and possibly illegal labour by Delaware North Australia. Both companies have contracts with the Commonwealth Government to provide enough staff to carry out such services. Using detainees to undertake such work is a possible breach of the Immigration Act. "The Department knows detainees work in the Villawood kitchens and food halls under the supervision of Delaware North Companies and are paid in cigarettes and telephone cards, " said Unions NSW deputy assistant secretary Chris Christodoulou. "But it refuses to acknowledge Delaware North's opportunity to make enormous profits from the situation at the taxpayers' expense." Mr Christodoulou received a letter from Villawood detainee Motahar Hussein complaining about his and other detainees' working conditions. Based on information provided by Mr Hussein and by the Department, Unions NSW believe Delaware North could be pocketing upward of $500,000 a year in saved wages for catering services alone. Mr Clifton's evidence is part of an action by a 10-year-old former Woomera and Villawood detainee who is suing the Federal Government for damages after suffering serious and ongoing psychological damage while in detention.
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