>Media release – Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean, 22 May 2024

Call for urgent action on Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today called for urgent action from the Government, including the establishment of a special taskforce to reduce the numbers of children held on remand at Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

“At the start of this week, there were 26 children and young people held at Ashley”, Ms 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 6 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.”

Ms McLean said almost all children currently held at Ashley are on remand.

“This means they have not been sentenced by a court.”

“Many of them have come into contact with the justice system because they have no safe place to go in the community, and many have not been able to access the types of supports that are known to reduce the likelihood they will engage in harmful behaviour.”

Ms McLean said the key elements of the Government’s 10-year Youth Justice Blueprint aimed at preventing children from coming into contact with the justice system remain largely unfunded.

“Further, a lack of resources to support the needs of children and families in communities is resulting in more children falling through the gaps and at risk of exhibiting harmful behaviours, resulting in more arrests, more children in our justice system, and more children in detention.

“Conditions at Ashley remain extremely concerning, with low numbers of staff attempting to meet the highly complex needs of these children and young people.”

“I continue to hold serious concerns for the wellbeing of children and young people detained at Ashley under these conditions.”

“I also hold concerns for the wellbeing of Ashley staff, who are often going above and beyond under difficult circumstances. Despite this, low staffing availability and the high numbers of children and young people detained means isolation practices are regularly used to manage safety within the centre.”

“Isolation erodes the wellbeing of children and young people and breaches their human rights.”

Ms McLean said a therapeutic approach to youth justice must include community-based alternatives to custodial remand for children and young people.

“This should include small, home-like residential care with sustained therapeutic interventions and integrated child and family supports – 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.”

“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.”

Ms McLean said the Government must act urgently to form a special taskforce to reduce the numbers of children at Ashley.

“This will require bravery and determination, and a willingness to work collaboratively across government, as well as with community organisations and oversight institutions to provide care support and accommodation for children and young people who engage in harmful behaviours and are most in need, ensuring they have everything they need to grow and thrive.”

Media release – TasCOSS, 22 May 2024

Spike in number of children detained in Ashley demands urgent action

The Tasmanian Government’s response to the Commission of Inquiry promised urgent and evidence-based action to protect children, including the closure of Ashley Youth Detention Centre due to serious and ongoing safety risks at the facility, but a current spike in child detainees raises serious concerns that demand immediate action.

TasCOSS CEO, Adrienne Picone, said despite promises to close Ashley and progress legislative changes to reduce the number of children involved in the criminal justice system, the number of children currently held in detention at Ashley has recently spiked.

“According to the Commissioner for Children and Young People, at the start of the week there were 26 children and young people being held at Ashley — a facility we know is unsafe for any child — most of whom are on remand,” Ms Picone said.

“TasCOSS shares the serious concerns of the Commissioner and echos her call for the Government to establish an urgent taskforce aimed at reducing the number of children at Ashley.

“Tasmanians cannot wait any longer for changes to protect our children and communities. The Government must act now to enact policy and legislative changes, including those recommended by the Commissioner, to move children out of detention and reduce the number of children interacting with our criminal justice system.

“It is imperative the Government works collaboratively with the community services industry to promote a therapeutic response which upholds the safety and wellbeing of young people and provides the necessary resources and supports to aid their rehabilitation.

“Community organisations are ready to work with the Government to identify and address the needs of all children currently incarcerated at Ashley and plan for their transition to community-based care.”

Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 22 May 2024

Urgent Action Needed To Reduce Children In Detention

Premier Jeremy Rockliff must immediately abandon his harmful “tough on crime” approach to youth justice, and establish a taskforce to reduce the number of children in youth detention.

Speaking on ABC Radio, the Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean shared distressing new details about the harmful situation unfolding at Ashley Youth Detention Centre as a result of the Liberals’ shameful approach to youth justice. Ms McLean’s criticism of the Rockliff government’s approach was strong and damning.

The Commissioner said the number of children in AYDC has been on a “sustained rise”, with the number of children this week the highest for more than a decade. She described the situation as “intolerable, with children’s basic rights still being violated. This is shameful.

What is happening at AYDC is a direct consequence of the Rockliff government’s “tough on crime” policy agenda. The Commissioner for Children pointed out this approach runs contrary to the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations. It’s resulting in more children being pushed into detention, which is ultimately making all children at Ashley less safe.

If Jeremy Rockliff is as serious about the Commission of Inquiry as he says he is, he must immediately abandon his government’s shameful ‘tough on crime’ approach to youth justice. He must also listen to the calls from the Commissioner for Children and TASCOSS and establish an urgent taskforce to reduce the number of children in youth detention.

Media release – Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb, 22 May 2024

Government Must Heed Calls for Urgent Ashley Action Taskforce

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said the recent call from the Children’s Commissioner for an immediate taskforce to reduce the number of children at Ashley Youth Detention Centre is a damning indictment on the Rockliff Liberal Government.

“It’s time to call it out.  This government is deliberately rejecting a key Commission of Inquiry recommendation to urgently close AYDC,” Ms Webb said.

“Rather than prioritise interim steps to remove as many children as possible from that unsafe, inappropriate facility, we see deliberate policies championed by government which drive up the numbers of incarcerated children to levels unseen for many, many years.

“We are seeing a government choose to demonise young Tasmanians for electoral advantage with misguided tough-on-crime initiatives, while dragging its feet for over eight months to act on the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation.

“For eight months this government has ignored the call to work with the community sector to get kids out of AYDC and into safer and more effective community-based care arrangements.

“Since September last year, the community services sector, led by TasCOSS, has actively offered alternative interim models to take children out of AYDC into evidence-based, secure accommodation in the community.

“The Liberal government’s failure to seize the opportunity to work with specialist services to put in place such interim measures, and instead leave children in an understaffed facility in which they are subjected to regular isolation and remain at active risk of abuse, according to the Commission of Inquiry, can only be considered a case of gross negligence and dereliction of duty of care.

“Quite frankly, the most recent call by the Children’s Commissioner for an urgent taskforce is a modest one.  If the Minister once again ignores this call, that will confirm for many that this government chooses to leave vulnerable children at risk, and ultimately, the Tasmanian community less safe,” Ms Webb said.