In the most recent Senate Estimates Committee, the question was asked of the Home Affairs department to explain its handling of the contract for the offshore processing arrangements procured with Nauru and Manus Island.
A contract given to 1 company, CANSTRUCT INTERNATIONAL, with no tender released and no consultation. This contract has no value for money and is high risk. There is also minimal reporting required for this contract while they are under Letter of Intent.
This contract is worth $1.6b and began on the 11th of June 2021. With the numbers of asylum seekers heavily reduced since the inception of the regional processing centres, the costs should also be decreasing.
Since 2012, the Department of Home Affairs has been responsible for all costs related to support and welfare of all functions of the processing centres. In total, the government has spent over $7.1b maintaining these facilities. There have been numerous companies and contracts involved over the years handling the services provided with very little oversight or accountability.
At the time of publishing, there has been no response from Home Affairs.
