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Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Manus Island inquiry starts with G4S

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The Manus Island detention centre. Image from the Dept of Immigration Flickr stream
The Manus Island detention centre. Image from the Dept of Immigration Flickr stream

An inquiry into the fatal Manus Island detention centre riots will kick off with evidence from security firm G4S.

Officials from the company and the Department of Immigration will appear before a Senate inquiry in Canberra on Tuesday to give their take on the violence that led to Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati’s death.

G4S has claimed several factors led to the February 18 riots including the federal government’s resettlement policy and stalled processing of refugee claims.

It says it warned the department days before tensions rose of its need for more guards and better infrastructure.

The inquiry will later hear from former G4S guard and whistleblower Steve Kilburn, Salvation Army management and the man who conducted a government review into the riots, Robert Cornall.



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