Detention hellhole: Female jailers relive 'nightmare' job on Manus Island where inmates rioted for NINE days while terrified workers fought to survive
Two female jailers who endured a nightmare stint at a detention centre on Manus Island are suing their employer and the Commonwealth for damages.
In a statement of claim filed with the Supreme Court of Victoria, former workers Diane Parker and Kerry Clifton outline a prolonged ordeal on the island off Papua New Gunea.
Both were employed between 2013 and 2014 to provide security, operational and management services for the protection of the detainees.
But it was staff who ended up needing the protection, they claim.
Asylum seekers staring at media from behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre, Papua New Guinea. It was the year they would riot.
An incident on Manus Island saw about 30 asylum seekers sew their lips together and 500 more go a hunger strike. The government faces several law suits from workers at the facility
Facilities at the Manus Island Regional Processing Facility, which was used for the detention of asylum seekers. Several ex workers are suing the government over their time there.
The claims are believed to be among a swag of writs being lodged by former employees of G4S, which employed the workers on behalf of the government at the detention centre.
In February 2014, the women endured days of rioting at the centre which left one person dead and 77 injured - 13 suffered serious injuries.
-
Asylum seekers convicted of murder and rape could be allowed...
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there are just SIX...
G4S sought extra guards before riot
Manus detention centre security beef-up
-
One killed and 77 injured during night of rioting at...
Salvation Army employee 'led the brutal beating' that killed...
Share this article
Both claim they were forced to work in an unsafe workplace where women were targeted as potential hostages during the riot.
They further claim G4S failed to train them adequately for the situation in which detainees gained access to weapons and rocks.
A former security officer, Gregory Wisely, has already alleged that he was struck in the head by a rock during the riot, sustaining a brain injury.
The allegations are among more than 24 made by the women.
Refugees and asylum seekers protest inside the Manus Island immigration detention centre last year. Workers have lodged claims in the Supreme Court of Victoria over their experiences working at the facility
Ms Parker claims she was forced to work in a triage station of an emergency post despite not having the skills to perform the work.
She states that she was deprived of sleep and and was yelled at and humiliated.
In a further slap down, Ms Parker claims G4S changed its sick leave policy while she was on sick leave, causing her further distress.
The women claim they were left sitting ducks when the detainees began to riot, arguing they had been unable to even carry out searches on the detainees.
Police storm the Manus Island facility during a period of 'high tension' last year. Several former employees have described their terror while working at the facility.
When things got out-of-control, the workers argued the Australian Defence Forces should have been deployed, but were not.
The women claim they had no idea a riot was about to break out and when it did, they were grossly outnumbered and under resourced.
Both claim to be left suffering from nightmares, flashbacks and depression.
The matters are set to go to trial before a judge and jury.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
