Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 5 December 2019:

1. Does the Government have any role or control over the operation of the Bomana Detention Centre in Papua New Guinea.2. Have there been any Australian public servants involved in the operation of Bomana; if so, how many.3. Have any contractors or subcontractors involved in the operation of Bomana been paid by the Government; if so, how many, broken down by category.4 .Has the Government paid for training of any Bomana staff; if so: (a) how many people have been trained; (b) what is the total number of participant hours of training; and (c) what was the total value of that training; if not, why not.5. Can a copy be provided of the agreement or agreements made between the Australian and Papua New Guinean governments regarding Bomana; if not, why not.6. Did the Australian Government contribute to the: (a) construction of Bomana; and/or (b) ongoing operational costs of Bomana; if so, how much (in tabular form by financial year, including projected costs over the forward estimates).7. Is the Government aware that multilateral and not-for-profit organisations have been denied consistent access to Bomana; if so, has the Government made any representations to the Government of Papua New Guinea to encourage access; if not, why not.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is:

1. No.

2. No.

3. The Department of Home Affairs provides funding support to the Papua New Guinea Government for its operation of the Bomana Immigration Centre. The Department does not hold any contracts in relation to the operation of the Bomana Immigration Centre.

4. At the request of the Papua New Guinea Government, the Department of Home Affairs provided training to six Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority officers working at the Bomana Immigration Centre.

The Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority also engaged local service providers to deliver other relevant training directly to staff working at the Bomana Immigration Centre at cost of $12,952.25. The training included first aid, fire equipment training and St John's Ambulance defibrillator training.

5. The arrangement between the Australia and Papua New Guinea Governments was agreed in confidence. If released, it could undermine Papua New Guinea's confidence in its good working relationship with Australia and may jeopardise cooperation on people smuggling matters more broadly.

6. (a) Yes. The cost to construct the centre was approximately $23.2 million.

(b) As noted in 3) contracts are held by the Papua New Guinea Government.

7. Access to the Bomana Immigration Centre is a matter for the Papua New Guinea Government.