Nauru security company Transfield under siege by activists

The security company which operates Nauru and Manus Island detention centres has come under siege by activists.

People protesting against Transfield in Melbourne!

The security company which holds multi-billion dollar contracts to operate Nauru and Manus Island detention centres has come under siege by a lobbying effort from a business-focused group comprised of lawyers, churches, unions, and activists.

Transfield Services Group took the extraordinary step of sending a nine-page letter to its shareholders, obtained by The Australian, defending its human rights record against the attack by new player in the anti-detention movement No Business in Abuse.

The statement, circulated among institutional investors, analysts and banks in the past fortnight, sought to assure the business community of Transfield’s “commitment to respecting human rights” in the face of intense lobbying.

The statement, which comes ahead of Monday’s cabinet reshuffle when a new Immigration minister could replace Tony Abbott-loyalist Peter Dutton, is designed to head off questions likely to follow a report by No Business in Abuse expected next week.

It’s understood the report will chronicle over 100 cases of abuse in offshore detention centres operated by Transfield, and the group will claim it constitutes a possible case for legal action against the company.

Transfield’s letter states: “We strongly disagree with the NBIA’s view on Transfield Services’ potential legal exposure relating to human rights.

“The NBIA’s desire to lobby our investor base … is neither practical nor in the interest of the welfare of asylum seekers.”

The No Business in Abuse campaign launched today, although it has been directly briefing banks and other institutions all year, insisting investing in Transfield potentially breaches corporate responsibility obligations and creates the risk of reputational damage.

Shen Narayanasamy, the executive director No Business in Abuse, said the campaign was making headway.

Three superannuation funds — HESTA, NGS Super and UniSuper — have pulled money from Transfield.

“Corporate Australia from my experience is disturbed by the allegations so far heard about Transfield, large businesses wish to be seen as respectable, legitimate and valued members of the community and there is a genuine reputational threat to the investment community from being complicit in human rights violations against children,” said Ms Narayanasamy, a lawyer and former economic justice advocacy co-ordinator at Oxfam Australia,

Transfield has run the Nauru operations since late 2012 and replaced G4S as the Manus Island operator in 2014 — contracts thought to be valued as high as $2.7 billion.

It was selected last month as the preferred tenderer for a five-year extension to its contract and is negotiations with the government.

Misha Coleman, executive officer of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, today pressed Malcolm Turnbull to change Australia’s policy.

“Last year on national television Malcolm Turnbull said he had concerns about the harsh and cruel measures we are taking to stop boat turnbacks. Given his international legal background, we hope he has ideas and alternatives to mandatory and offshore detention.

“It’s not a binary argument, there’s a lot more sophisticated responses available to the government.”