Govt plans to terminate firm’s contract

IMMIGRATION and Border Security Minister Petrus Thomas, pictured, says the Government’s position on the Paladin Solutions security contract on Manus Island is to terminate it by the end of this month.
Thomas said chief migration officer Solomon Kantha had written to the Australian Home Affairs through the Australian High Commission in PNG about the matter.
“(The) PNG Government wants a transparent tender process and most importantly will strongly recommend national content,” Thomas said in a statement.
“PNG companies now have the capacity and expertise to do the job and should be given the opportunity to participate.”
According to Australian media reports, Prime Minister Scott Morrison planned to renew a A$20 million (K46.3mil)-a-month Manus Island security contract with Paladin Solutions.
Australia Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton indicated Paladin would have its contract to provide refugee facility security services extended beyond its June 30 expiration.
“The likely arrangement is there will be a continuation. I’m not going to comment when the department is in the process of contract discussions, negotiations etc,’’ Dutton said.
The Auditor-General is investigating the awarding of A$423 million (K979.8mil) worth of contracts to Paladin without a tender process.