Homeless former Ashley detainee force to live in tent over winter

Claims have emerged a homeless child leaving Ashley Youth Detention Centre was given nothing but a tent to sleep in through winter upon their release. LATEST >>

A homeless young person released from Ashley Detention Centre was given a tent to live in over winter, Labor says.

Opposition leader Rebecca White said a worker at the centre bought the child a tent because they had nowhere else to sleep.

“It is our understanding that a young person was exited into a situation where they didn’t have a home earlier this year and that they subsequently lived in a tent,” Ms White said.

“That is completely unacceptable for a young person to be given a tent in the middle of winter

“We know this government has a history of providing tents to young people on care and protection orders.

“That is completely unacceptable and the government needs to be acting swiftly to make sure that not only is this young person supported but this cannot be allowed to occur again.”

After a series of scandals at the detention centre, Premier Peter Gutwein announced Ashley would close within three years and be replaced.

Minister for Children and Youth Sarah Courtney said she could not comment on the specifics of the case.

”Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of our young people,” she said.

“I clearly cannot go into the specific circumstances of young people.

“I would like to assure the house that planning does happen prior to their departure from Ashley.

“We do look at steps that we can take and often partner with other organisations mainly to ensure that our young people can stay safe and can be protected.”

Ms White said she was not reassured by the government’s response.

Ashley Youth Detention Centre near Westbury in northern Tasmania.

In 2016, then Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma apologised after a ward of the state and his young girlfriend were found to be sleeping in a cattle shed at the Royal Hobart Showgrounds after being provided with a tent for housing from a government department employee.

“Why has it happened again?” Ms White asked.

“How will they make sure that young people are given appropriate care when they’re exiting any institutional setting or if they’re on a care protection order and haven’t got somewhere else to be safe to stay?

“If Minister Courtney is aware that a young person has been exited from Ashley Youth Detention Centre and had nowhere else to live but a tent, will she too apologise just like her predecessor has in the past, because young people deserve better than what this current government has provided for them.”

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