The buck stops - where ?

Is there anything this Federal government can't manage to turn into a disaster ?

On April 20 residents at the Villawood Detention centre started a riot.   They climbed onto the roof of some of the buildings and demanded to be released into the community.   For the next eleven days utter chaos reigned - and then buildings were torched and this cost Australian taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

An enquiry into this event has revealed some astonishing facts.   Serco, the contractor tasked with managing Villawood - and many other similar centres scattered around Australia - has terms of contract which preclude them from physically removing people who climb onto the roof of buildings and organise riots.

Serco very reasonably expected to be able to call in the New South Wales police force for assistance, but here the fine point of the law gets in the way.   Villawood Detention centre is deemed to be Commonwealth property - and as such is outside the state force's jurisdiction.

Having been rebuffed, Serco called for help from the Federal police force - only to again be rebuffed because that body did not have the capacity to provide a response.   No changes have since taken place, hence if another riot occurs the same circumstances will apply.

It is an almost unbelievable fiasco.   The contractor running the centre is prevented by contract from preserving Commonwealth property from harm.    The State police can not help because the site is not legally part of New South Wales - and the Federal Police lacks the strength and resources to act.

It seems that all that is left is the Australian army !

How did a " Detention Centre " come into existence without a control plan being in place ?     Would be built a prison without measures to control the inmates, given that escape would be an issue and tight control an absolute necessity.

And so far nothing is being done to fix the problem.  All our detention centres are vulnerable to riot damage and loss of taxpayer's money.

The question is ?     On whose desk does this buck stop ?