‘I haven’t changed’: Young hoon’s damning tough love camp video

A video of a Tassie child in a controversial ‘tough love’ program livestreaming himself joyriding in a stolen car makes a lie of assurances young people in the program are safe, the Opposition says. WATCH THE FOOTAGE >>

• Tasmania Government probe into $274k a year tough love camp in the Northern Territory
• Tough love programs not the best for trouble kids experts say, as calls for Tassie programs ignored

IT’s the two-minute video that dispels two weeks of government spin.

One of the young Tasmanians involved in the controversial Brahminy program has filmed himself driving a stolen vehicle at high speed, explaining to the camera that the $274,000 a year tough-love program hasn’t worked.

“You know what? My family have been messaging me lately and they’ve been saying I haven’t changed,” the teenager says.

“Well, to be honest, maybe I f***ing haven’t changed. This is my life and I’m going to live it.”

Premier Peter Gutwein on Tuesday assured parliament the government was keeping a close eye on participants in the Northern Territory-based program.

He said that as well as an inquiry under way, welfare officers had called the six young people still involved.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“During the call the young people expressed their clear desire to remain in the program,” he said.

“I am advised that these young people are safe, they are well and they are making good progress in their placements.”

But the young person in the video provided an alternative commentary.

“I just stole it. F***ing Toyota troopy. Cops come, I’m chasing it. Woooo,” he said.

“This here would have to be probably the best time of my life.

“Sixty k’s over motherf******, going 100. It’s a community area. The cops come, I don’t give a f***. Wooo.”

The Mercury understands that the young person has spent more time in the program than any other — two years at taxpayers’ expense.

Labor Member for Elwick, Josh Willie. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Labor’s child safety spokesman Josh Willie said the video was not a good ad.

“This video makes a lie of assurances from Peter Gutwein and Roger Jaensch that young people in this program are safe,” he said.

“Clearly, there has been a failure to keep this young person in a safe environment and, as a consequence, the safety of the individual and the broader community has been put at risk.

“Peter Gutwein must step in and bring these young people home immediately and he must sack his incompetent minister.”

Mr Gutwein told parliament he had full confidence in Minister Roger Jaesnch.

“We must remain focused on what is best for these young people and resist the temptation to take a knee-jerk decision that may disrupt the positive progress that is occurring, as they are turning their lives around where other approaches have failed,” he said.

Questions are expected to be asked about the matter in parliament today as calls mount to bring the children home.

Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch said he was aware of the video.

“We are aware of media reports relating to a Facebook post,” he said.

“Two senior members of the review team are currently on the ground at MCID undertaking a review of the program and will investigate the circumstances of this post as part of the review.”

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