Serco adds to growing service portfolio

INTERNATIONAL outsourcing company Serco has continued to build a diversified business in Western Australia after winning a state government contract to provide prisoner transport, court security and custodial services.

The new contract will add to Serco’s existing portfolio of government contracts in the justice, transport, health and immigration sectors.

The UK-based company’s commercial success has continued despite mounting controversy over some of its operations, particularly its management of immigration detention centres.

Union leader Dave Kelly responded to the announcement by renewing his criticism of the privatisation of government services.

He said court security and prisoner transport Western Australians should not be run for profit, but instead operated by the state government to ensure greater accountability.

“Hospital services, immigration detention, court security, prisoner transport. At this rate we’ll run out of services to privatise out to Serco,” he said.

The Greens also were critical.

“While I welcome the imminent removal of disgraced security company G4S from provision of WA’s court security and custodial services the new preferred tenderer, Serco, has no better reputation,” Greens justice spokesperson Giz Watson said.

Corrective Services Minister Terry Redman made the announcement ahead of the July 30 expiration date of the current court security and services contract.

“These arrangements will deliver an improved quality of service with a focus on duty of care and the delivery of all services in a safe, humane and decent manner,” Mr Redman said.

Current contractor G4S was embroiled in controversy in 2008 over the accidental death of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward, who died in the back of a non-air-conditioned prison van.

In November last year, Serco was selected as the preferred bidder bid to provide non-clinical services at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Serco will provide services like engineering and building maintenance, security, ground maintenance, linen, cleaning, catering, waste services, managed equipment services, transport, procurement, sterilisation, reception and clerical services.

Serco also runs the ticketing and transport information service for Transperth, as well as providing services at Acacia prison.

It also is the owner-operator of the Indian Pacific train, provides correction and rehabilitation services at Acacia Prison, and maritime support to the Navy at HMAS Stirling through its joint venture with DMS Maritime.

In 2009, Serco signed a five-year contract to manage and operate seven immigration detention centres, including those at Christmas Island and Northam.