The Liberal Government is rebuilding essential services and helping at-risk young Tasmanians to turn their lives around.
The upcoming State Budget is all about keeping our promises, fixing the budget mess and laying the foundations for the future.
We will be providing $2 million over four years to reinstate the youth justice diversion program U-Turn.
U-turn is a restorative justice program that has been operating in Tasmania for 10 years, designed for young people aged 15-20 who have been involved in, or been at risk of being involved in motor vehicle theft or offences.
The highly successful program had been left with no certainty of continuing under the previous Labor-Green Government after ongoing funding for the program was cut last year, with Labor and the Greens only providing a one-off payment to extend the program for one more year after the Liberals made our $2 million commitment to continue the program.
The program will now be administered under the Department of Justice through Community Corrections, which has extensive experience in the delivery of preventative and diversionary programs, providing a more appropriate fit for managing U-turn.
This funding will ensure that the program can continue to work with young people, and divert them from the criminal justice system into education and employment to get their lives back on track.
Unlike Labor and the Greens, the Liberal Government recognises the value of helping young people move from the criminal justice system back into learning opportunities and employment, and that is why we are committed to the U-turn program.
Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for Corrections Minister for Justice
