Another call to close Tasmania’s troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre, home to serious human right abuses

A coalition of community groups has written to the state government calling for the immediate closure of the troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre — saying delays were unacceptable.

Ashley Youth Detention Centre near Deloraine. Picture: NewsCorp

A coalition of community groups has written to the state government calling for the immediate closure of the troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

The facility, near Deloraine, was one of the focuses of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings and was the subject of two volumes in its final report.

For decades, Ashley has been plagued by allegations of serious human rights abuses, including the sexual abuse of children in detention.

The government has pledged to close Ashley, although the original timeline has slipped.

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service, as part of a coalition of justice and social service organisations, has written to Premier Jeremy Rockliff saying the closure of Ashley was well overdue.

TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone at Parliament lawn Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It has now been two years since former Premier Peter Gutwein announced the closure of Ashley, yet it seems we are still no closer to a date.

“Waiting any longer for change is unacceptable.”

TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said the coalition remained extremely concerned for the safety of the children currently held at Ashley.

Commission of Inquiry report finds serious failings at LGH and Ashley Youth Detention Centre

The Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report which confirmed there are “current and live risks” for detainees and recommended its urgent closure.

“We learned courtesy of a question from the Member for Nelson that of the 26 children who were locked-up at Ashley in the three month window between 1 July and 3 September this year, 19 were yet to be sentenced and at least one child had been held at Ashley on remand for in excess of 200 days,” she said.

“This is a shocking admission, particularly in light of the current conditions at Ashley and the impact they are having on the health and wellbeing of the children detained and their families.”

‘We hold grave concerns’: Illegal isolation likely still used on kids at Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Prisoners’ Legal Service Tasmania Chair, Greg Barns SC, said the Tasmanian Government has a duty of care to prisoners and detainees.

“Given what we know about Ashley and how it operates today, it is clear that by leaving it open, the Government is breaching that duty. This means more vulnerable young people are being traumatised on a daily basis,” he said.

Ms Picone added that the Government’s announcement of a proposed southern youth detention facility at Pontville was not an adequate or appropriate response to the findings of the Commission.

“We have no confidence the development of a new southern youth detention centre will address any of the underlying issues contributing to our child safety and youth justice system,” she said.

Originally published as Another call to close Tasmania’s troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre, home to serious human right abuses