Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) At 3:20am Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) on the morning of 2 November 2011, a female Serco officer was heard over the radio by other Serco officers saying, “put it down”. Serco officers initiated an immediate search in response to the radio transmission, noting that a fire alarm had been activated in the laundry room in the Foxtrot building. The female Serco officer was found on the ground of the laundry room in a semi-conscious state and appeared to have sustained a blow to her right cheek. A small fire was also observed in one of the washing machines and was immediately extinguished. The female Serco officer received immediate medical treatment at the site of the incident and was subsequently taken to the medical clinic at the Curtin IDC. She was transferred to the Derby Hospital shortly after for further treatment and observation.

(2) The female Serco officer was found at 3:22am AWST on the morning of 2 November 2011 by other Serco officers.

(3) The female Serco officer was located on the ground of the laundry room in the Foxtrot building.

(4) A small fire was found alight in one of the washing machines in the laundry room.

(5) A toilet roll, orange peels and pistachio nuts were found at the site of the fire and appear to have been used to light the fire.

(6) Notification of chain of command occurred at:

(7) A situation report on the incident was sent via email to the Minister's staff at 7:01am, AEST, on the morning of 2 November 2011.

(8) The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Operations Coordination Centre was verbally advised of the incident via telephone at 7:36am AWST on 2 November 2011. Written advice was subsequently provided to the AFP at 10:34am AWST on 2 November 2011. An ambulance was not required to attend the Curtin IDC.

(9) The female Serco officer was treated immediately at the scene of the incident and subsequently transferred to the medical clinic for further assessment.

(10) The female Serco officer was transported to the Derby Hospital at approximately 3:50am AWST by Serco. An ambulance was not required to attend the facility.

(11) The treatment provided to the female Serco officer by the Derby Hospital has not been disclosed to the department for privacy reasons.

(12) The incident was referred to the Australian Federal Police for investigation. The AFP sent officers to the Curtin IDC on 3 and 5 November to examine the crime scene and conduct an investigation into the incident. The AFP investigation into this matter is ongoing.

(13) The investigation by the AFP is ongoing. Any questions in relation to the investigation should be referred to the AFP.

(14) The investigation by the AFP is ongoing. Any questions in relation to the investigation should be referred to the AFP.

(15) The female Serco officer was transported to the Derby Hospital at approximately 3:50am AWST and was discharged from the hospital at 5:30am AWST on 2 November 2011.

(16) The female Serco officer returned to work at the Curtin IDC on 4 November 2011.