Premier Rockliff promises to ‘do both’ to reduce youth crime and those spending time in detention

The “depressing” environment of Hobart’s renal unit has been aired in state parliament. Also two major reports were handed down. Latest from state parliament >>

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Parliament question time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The Mercury’s rolling coverage from Tasmania’s parliament for Wednesday, May 22.

Action urged over Hobart’s cold, mouldy and ‘depressing’ renal unit

The “depressing” environment of Hobart’s renal unit has been aired in state parliament, with concerns raised about significant maintenance issues leading to cold, damp and mouldy conditions.

Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston has urged Health Minister Guy Barnett to meet with members of Tasmania’s Kidney Advisory Group to address concerns the renal unit at St John’s Park in New Town is in a state of disrepair and not fit for purpose.

Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston and dialysis patient Andre Richardson of the Kidney Advisory Group, who have raised concerns about the dilapidated state of the renal unit at St John's Park in New Town

Ms Johnston said that a thorough investigation and overhaul of the building and services at St John’s Park was needed.

“I’ve met with the members of the Kidney Advisory Group who tell me the St John’s Park facility is sub-standard and a depressing place to spend 16 hours of your life each week. The building is cold, patients are forced to bring their own blankets, privacy is virtually non-existent, and more recently black mould and water leaks forced a reduction in services while repairs were undertaken,” she said.

Andre Richardson of the Kidney Advisory Group said the unit was not a healthy environment for patients.

“The rooms are dark, small, cold, windy … and they are not very nice places for you to expose your arm,” he said.

“It’s pretty depressing going in to see what these people are suffering at the moment. It’s not nice at all to sit there for five hours trying to keep warm and bring your own blankets and bring your own heater in, and not be able to have any privacy either.”

Mr Barnett said he would meet with the Kidney Advisory Group to discuss their concerns about St John’s Park.

“I’m always interested in trying to make a difference for people … I want to be part of a government that is building better health care services and a better health care system. We are delivering that,” he said.

– BLAIR RICHARDS

Sentencing Advisory Council report handed down

Tasmania’s hate crime sentencing laws should be expanded to recognise more forms of prejudicial offending, and include a descriptive list of groups being targeted by perpetrators, a newly released Sentencing Advisory Council report has found.

The review into the scope of section 11B of the Sentencing Act 1997, which requires the state’s courts to consider racial hatred or prejudice as an aggravating factor during sentencing, was ordered by former Attorney-General Elise Archer in 2023.

The Council was asked to examine how courts have used section 11B since its introduction to the Sentencing Act in 2017, and examine whether its scope should be widened to include circumstances such as religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical disability.

Chair of the Council Michael O’Farrell SC said the review’s final report, which sought feedback and comment from stakeholders and interested community members, had identified “good reasons” to expand the operation of section 11B during sentencing.

“Crimes motivated by prejudice against vulnerable groups cause harm to the victim, as well as anxiety and fear amongst the group to which they belong and to the community more generally,” Mr O’Farrell said.

In welcoming the report, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Guy Barnett said there was no place for discrimination in modern Tasmania.

Mr Barnett said the government would carefully consider the recommendations made in the council’s report to help safeguard vulnerable groups in Tasmania.

– DAVID ABEY

Health panned for RTI response

The Integrity Commission has recommended disciplinary action be taken against a Department of Health employee who refused a Right to Information request by falsely claiming the material could not be released for copyright reasons.

The Commission also recommended Health disband its Right to Information panel due to “serious misconduct risks and its capacity to subvert compliance with the Right to Information Act”.

The report of Investigation Gatehouse was tabled in state parliament on Wednesday.

An opposition MP requested a copy of the acoustic design report for the Royal Hobart Hospital helipad in July 2021.

An ambulance helicopter on the new helipad at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Department of Health employee responsible for assessing the request asked the company who produced the report whether it was covered by the provisions of the Copyright Act and therefore should not be released.

The company responded: “There is nothing in the report that is unique … that we would want to protect our competitors from viewing,” it said.

Saying there was no contractual obligation for the department to keep the report confidential.

However the employee refused the release of the information.

The Department of Health Deputy Secretary who signed off on the decision also backed it being withheld but he told the Integrity Commission he hadn’t seen the response from the company.

An internal review by the Department of Health — conducted by the same employee — upheld his earlier decision to withhold the document.

The Integrity Commission found this was a conflict of interest.

The employee told the Integrity Commission” “just because someone is a member of parliament or a journalist that’s trying to generate a story doesn’t mean it’s in the public interest.’

The Integrity Commission noted the same employee had demanded a well-known ABC journalist, who sent an email from her ABC email account with and ABC signature block — prove she was a journalist.

That was something their manager conceded that was “probably a little bit too strict”.

The same employee decided that acclaimed journalist Camille Bianchi was not a journalist for the purposes of the RTI Act, the report noted.

The Integrity Commission recommended the Secretary of the Department of Health undertake a formal disciplinary process into the conduct of the employee following the findings in the report.

Neither the employee or the Department of Health deputy secretary were named in the Integrity Commission report.

– DAVID KILLICK

Lone prosecution from abuse inquiry

Just one person has faced prosecution for criminal offences revealed during the Commission of Inquiry, parliament has heard.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings handed down its final report in September and made 43 criminal referrals to Tasmanian police.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Felix Ellis told parliament in many cases there was not much to go on.

Minister Felix Ellis. State parliament returns for the first day after the election. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Tasmania Police received 43 Section 34A referrals during the Commission of Inquiry.

“They include referrals of sexual assault, grooming, sexual offences, inappropriate behaviour, child exploitation material, criminal code conduct amongst others.

“A large number of the referrals did not disclose victim or complainant details or the victim did not consent to their details being known to police.

“One of those matters remains under investigation, one is before the court and one is a coronial matter.”

The revelation came as Commission for Children and Young People Leanne McLean raised concerns about the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, which the Commission demanded be closed.

Then Premier Peter Gutwein promised to close the Detention Centre in September 2021 after allegations of serious and ongoing human rights abuses, including the sexual abuse of children detained there. It remains in operation.

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

Leanne McLean Tasmania's Commissioner for Children and Young People. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“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.”

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

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

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Minister Roger Jeasnch had spoken to the Children’s Commissioner overnight.

“We will always be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We can do both,” he said.

“We welcome the Commissioner’s input. As Ms McLean would be aware we’re doing a considerable amount of work in this area, it’s a major focus for me and a major focus for the government.

“I reiterate my intention to close Ashley as soon as possible.

TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone said it was concerning Ashley was still open.

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

The government is expected to make a ministerial statement on its progress on commission of inquiry recommendations in parliament on Thursday.

The 1000-day anniversary of the government’s pledge to close Ashley is in two weeks.

– DAVID KILLICK

Originally published as Premier Rockliff promises to ‘do both’ to reduce youth crime and those spending time in detention