| 
           Business segments (Details 2) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Sep. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Mar. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Mar. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2010 
         | 
      |
| Revenues and assets | |||||||||||
| Revenue | $ 300,736 | $ 266,353 | $ 243,452 | $ 239,603 | $ 250,107 | $ 238,296 | $ 227,116 | $ 214,114 | $ 1,050,145 | $ 929,633 | $ 831,749 | 
| Total long-lived assets | 95,408 | 86,360 | 95,408 | 86,360 | |||||||
| 
           United States 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Revenues and assets | |||||||||||
| Revenue | 775,871 | 630,812 | 606,396 | ||||||||
| Total long-lived assets | 56,188 | 51,245 | 56,188 | 51,245 | |||||||
| 
           CANADA 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Revenues and assets | |||||||||||
| Total long-lived assets | 24,110 | 20,096 | 24,110 | 20,096 | |||||||
| 
           Australia 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Revenues and assets | |||||||||||
| Revenue | 163,482 | 176,814 | 135,635 | ||||||||
| Total long-lived assets | 10,358 | 12,260 | 10,358 | 12,260 | |||||||
| 
           Rest of World 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Revenues and assets | |||||||||||
| Revenue | 110,792 | 122,007 | 89,718 | ||||||||
| Total long-lived assets | $ 4,752 | $ 2,759 | $ 4,752 | $ 2,759 | |||||||