Alleged Ashley offender has spent four years on full pay while suspended

An Ashley Youth Detention Centre worker accused of multiple child sex offences remains on the public payroll more than four years after being suspended. The government’s response.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings has opened in Hobart. Commissioners Professor Leah Bromfield (left), the Honourable Marcia Neave AO (centre) and the Honourable Robert Benjamin AM. Picture: Maren Preuss/ABC

An Ashley Youth Detention Centre worker accused of multiple child sex offences remains on the public payroll more than four years after being suspended.

The alleged offender given the pseudonym “Stan” was the subject of some of the most serious accusations levelled at the Commission of Inquiry — including the rape of detainees.

He was suspended in 2020 and is one of seven state sector employees who have been on full pay for more than 1000 days waiting for a resolution of an investigation for breaching the state service code of conduct.

A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokeswoman said the matters under investigation were complex and required care.

“The Tasmanian Government recognises the current situation is unacceptable and has stood up an investigation unit to focus on matters, specifically relating to Ashley Youth Detention Centre,” she said in a statement.

Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings. Movenpick Hotel, Hobart Tasmania.

“We have also engaged respected barrister Regina Weiss to resolve these matters as soon as possible.

“There are some investigations exceeding expected time frames due to the complexity of the matters.

Stan was suspended pending an ED5 investigation in November 2020.

According to the Commission of Inquiry’s final report, he was first accused of abusing detainees at the notorious Deloraine detention centre in the early 2010s.

In 2017, a detainee given the pseudonym “Ben” by the Commission of Inquiry alleged Stan had raped him and another detainee.

“Ben said he was raped three times on [an] excursion by an Ashley Youth Detention Centre staff member, Stan, the Commission of Inquiry’s final report said.

“Ben told us that he knew of at least one other young person who was abused on that trip as well.”

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings has opened in Hobart. Picture: Maren Preuss/ABC

Further allegations were made in 2019 and 2020 and in total “Stan” has faced allegations made by five separate alleged victims.

The Commission found that the now-abolished Department of Communities “did not take appropriate steps to manage risk, make appropriate notifications and progress investigations” against Stan and two other staff accused of child sexual abuse. “which left children and young people at Ashley Youth Detention Centre at potential risk of harm.”

It also found that the department failed to adequately consider the safety of detainees.

The government has pledged to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

There have been 102 state service employees suspended from duty after allegations of child sexual abuse since October 2020.

Six have been terminated, four resigned or their contract ended before they were terminated and two returned to duty after being sanctioned. Ten quit before the investigations into the allegations were completed.

Another 35 were cleared of breaching the state service code of conduct and 40 remain under investigation.

In July last year, Premier Jeremy Rockliff appointed Ms Weiss to advise the head of the state service on a new Shared Capability and Centralised Investigations Unit, which was intended to streamline and speed up ED5 investigations.

Barrister Regina Weiss. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Agencies must work in accordance with the law, established by precedent and legislation, to ensure the process is not opened up to legal challenge,” the DPAC spokeswoman said.

“Where matters also involve police, we need to proceed with caution as to not interfere with police investigations or criminal prosecutions.

“The government remains committed to finalising investigations of individuals who remain employed but stood down. Ms Weiss is working with officials to assist these efforts.”

Originally published as Alleged Ashley offender has spent four years on full pay while suspended