Broadspectrum has sought to expand its operations on Nauru despite announcing its withdrawal from the offshore immigration detention network, apparently taking over the role recently abandoned by Connect Settlement Services.
It was revealed last month that CSS had decided not to re-tender for the contract providing welfare services for refugees on the island.
But according to an email sent to CSS employees, the Australian Border Force is negotiating with Broadspectrum to step in.
“We have been informed that [the Australian Border Force] is in negotiations with Broadspectrum to potentially take over services by Connect in Nauru but no official agreement has been reached,” said the email, which was dated Monday and seen by Guardian Australia.
It said Broadspectrum had begun advertising for roles, and encouraged those who wished to apply.
Advertised roles with Broadspectrum include support workers, family support workers, and child safeguarding manager. They are fixed-term contracts until October 2017, when Broadspectrum’s contract ends.
Broadspectrum’s owner, Ferrovial, announced in April that it was withdrawing from its contracts with the Australian government’s offshore processing centres, scheduled to end in February 2017. However, the government exercised its option to stretch the contract and unilaterally extended it by eight months to October.
A spokesman for Broadspectrum referred questions about CSS’s services to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, but confirmed the company still intended to exit Nauru in October.
“Broadspectrum already provides some services related to the resettlement of refugees in Nauru, and if we are able to further improve the wellbeing of refugees through our welfare-led approach, then we are always willing to do so,” he said.
Ferrovial, a Spanish infrastructure giant, has been criticised since it bought Broadspectrum in April. International law experts warned that it and its directors could be liable for crimes against humanity under the Rome statute, the treaty establishing the international criminal court.
All CSS staff are expected to leave Nauru by Christmas. At a meeting held on the island for staff, employees were told the services required on Nauru were beyond the capabilities of a settlement agency, Guardian Australia understood at the time.
The agency is believed to have consistently raised concerns about insufficient mental healthcare and child protection services on the island.
The processing centres have routinely been criticised by former employees, current employees, human rights groups, lawyers, advocacy groups, various United Nations bodies and commissioners, and other countries.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection did not deny the email’s claims.
A spokeswoman said: “The department is working collaboratively with Connect Settlement Services in transitioning settlement services on Nauru.”
