An exclusive investigation has revealed a former ALP politician was working as a Safety and Security officer at the Manus Island detention centre during a violent riot that killed one asylum seeker and left 77 injured.

Former Queensland Labor Member of the Legislative Assembly was employed by G4S at the now notorious offshore processing centre, and was present during the bloody and chaotic event.

Kilburn was present on site at the detention facility during the riot and resigned his position directly after the incident.

“Yes I was there. No I can’t comment, as you would know we are under a deed of confidentiality,” said Mr Kilburn when approached for comment.

“I have resigned my position at G4S. I wouldn’t continue working at the Manus Island facility unless I was to believe in my heart there was a change of approach…. I would have to be confident there was a different approach to the Manus Island facility before I would work there again.”

In an emotional interview, Mr Kilburn stated there needs to be changes and serious reflection in regards to the current Australian approach to asylum seekers and refugees.

“Without commenting directly on anything that has happened, or the policy of Manus Island, I would say there needs to be some sort of more open discussion with the Australian public about the way we deal with asylum seekers, particularly boat arrivals.”

Mr Kilburn was emphatic about the need for staff at offshore detention centres to be able to speak on the record about their experiences.

“There also needs to be, whether through the Australian parliament or legal system, a way to reveal what occurred. There’s also a lot of heroic stories involving Australian G4S staff at the facility during the incident, but currently those stories are not being heard.”

Kilburn’s 2009 parliamentary maiden speech recalled his early years in the Navy, and the experience of boarding foreign fishing vessels as part of border security operations.

“It was this experience in particular that later in life led me towards the Labor Party”, Kilburn stated.

“When I looked into the eyes of the fishermen or refugees that I was often involved with, I did not see the cold heart of a terrorist that is so often portrayed now. What I did see was the desperation of mothers and fathers sick of lives full of fear, poverty and violence and simply looking to provide a better life for their families. It was with a sense of shame that I watched the politicisation of the legitimate claims of asylum seekers under the previous Howard government and I am pleased to see a return to a more compassionate and understanding approach under the current Labor government led by our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.”

Kilburn’s G4S position as a Safety and Security Officer for Manus Island commenced in October 2013 and entailed “providing Safety & Security at the Manus Island refugee processing centre in PNG. The position is FIFO [fly-in fly-out] and involves working with people from many nationalities and attempting to maintain a safe and secure environment for refugees, expat and PNG national working or housed at the processing centre.”

On the 18th February, a violent riot broke out, allegedly involving G4S staff and asylum seekers at Manus Island RPC. 23-year-old asylum seeker Reza Berati was murdered during the incident inside the Australian government’s detention facility.

Human rights groups have repeatedly called on the Coalition government to close Manus Island and return all asylum seekers currently held in offshore detention facilities to the mainland.