PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN AND FINDING THE MACHINE THAT ALLOWS THE WIZARD TO ROAR: WACKENHUT

Peter Russell, Wentworth Falls, December 13.

McDonaldised prisons an insult to Australians
It is of some concern to read of the former FBI agent George C. Wackenhut's interest in detention centres in this country and the increasing profit that the Wackenhut Corporation is making (Herald, December 12).

For a number of years we have watched the "McDonaldisation" of our prison system and the resultant problems that are emerging from this increasing privatisation.

Rehabilitation and reformation of our incarcerated are no longer a priority in this country with either the Wackenhut Corporation or our government authorities, who seem to have wiped their hands of any problems associated with the running of our prison system.

Privatisation of our prisons has reached more than 20 per cent in Australia and 50 per cent in Victoria (interestingly it is only 3 per cent in the US) and nobody seems to take issue. Prisoners and prisons for profit are an issue about which all Australian citizens fighting for social justice should be concerned and Mr Wackenhut's influence should consequently be curtailed.

Our society needs to take issue for its own sake.

Janice Creenaune, Austinmer, December 12.

The Howard Government has often used the term "un-Australian" as a slur on people or policies it opposes.

What I would like to know is how hiring a foreign company to run a vital part of Australia's immigration system and then denying the Australian public any access to information about their operations can be regarded as "Australian"?

Andrew Inman, Burwood, December 12.

The contract of ACM, the Florida-based company that runs six Australian detention centres and three Australian prisons, comes up for renewal next year.

For goodness sake, let us express it loud and clear to the powers-that-be that we do not want in our country American methods of treating detainees, as described in the Herald (December 12), for the profit of American shareholders.