Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People is pushing for the immediate closure of Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) and a change in the current youth justice model.
Commissioner Leanne McLean on Wednesday called for urgent action from the state government, including the establishment of a special taskforce to significantly reduce the number of children held on remand at Ashley.
“At the start of this week, there were 26 children and young people held at Ashley”, McLean said.
“These are some of the highest numbers of children and young people seen in detention in Tasmania in at least a decade and they are the highest I have known as Commissioner.”
“This has occurred despite the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation six months ago, accepted by the government, that this institution is not fit-for-purpose, must be closed and should be replaced by a new therapeutic model of youth justice.”
Almost all of the young people currently held at Ashley are on remand and have not been sentenced by a court.
McLean said many came into contact with the justice system “because they have no safe place to go in the community” and many have been unable to access the proper support to reduce harmful behaviour.
“Conditions at Ashley remain extremely concerning, with low numbers of staff attempting to meet the highly complex needs of these children and young people,” she said.
“I continue to hold serious concerns for the wellbeing of children and young people detained at Ashley under these conditions.”
The Commissioner said a therapeutic approach to youth justice must include community-based alternatives to custodial remand for children and young people including small residential care with therapeutic interventions and family support.
“These alternatives are urgently required in advance of the government’s proposed timeframes for the construction of bail accommodation and supported accommodation facilities and the closure of Ashley,” she said.
“The continued reliance on Ashley as a place to detain children and young people, especially those on remand, is unacceptable post Commission of Inquiry and contrary to the principle that detention for children must only be used as a last resort.”
TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone and Independent member Meg Webb support the Commissioner’s call for urgent action to address the situation at Ashley.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has promised to engage with stakeholders on youth justice reform and has reiterated the government’s commitment to closing Ashley.
