New stabbings, overdoses and fires reported at Australian immigration detention centres
Internal documents show violence, drug use and fires continue at Australian immigration detention centres run by US private prison firm MTC. The work safety regulator Comcare warns the government is likely breaching the law.
Australian immigration detention centres have recorded a fresh run of stabbings, overdoses and fires, and internal documents seen by Guardian Australia indicate the government is likely in breach of laws meant to protect staff and detainees. The centres are operated by Secure Journeys, a local subsidiary of Management and Training Corporation (MTC), a US private prison company that won a $2.3bn detention contract in late 2024. The Trump administration also uses MTC to hold ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainees.
Violence at the Melbourne centre
Since August, the Melbourne immigration detention centre has seen a string of incidents involving violence, aggression, illicit substances and improvised weapons. On 18 August, a violent clash between two groups left six detainees in hospital with slashing and stabbing injuries caused by improvised weapons. On 10 September, a detainee was found overdosed in his room, and staff had to give him Naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose.
Comcare, the federal work safety regulator, said in its notice that the Department of Home Affairs is not adequately managing these risks and has not shown that its current control measures are effective. It said the department is likely contravening section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act.
Fires at Villawood
A separate Comcare document says eight fire-related incidents occurred at the Villawood centre between February and May. This came despite earlier warnings. On 23 September 2025, staff rushed into a detainee's room to rescue him from a fire without proper safety equipment, and two workers were hospitalised. The regulator found the department had not carried out its own systematic review of fire and smoke control measures.
Reactions
Lyndal Ryan, national president of the United Workers Union, which represents workers in the centres, said the notices show continuing dangerous conditions and Secure Journeys' inability or unwillingness to address them. The union has long raised concerns about understaffing. A Secure Journeys spokesperson said safe operations and the welfare of staff and detainees remain its top priority. The Australian Border Force was contacted for comment.
