Worker stands down after fresh abuse claim: calls to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre continue

Pressure grows to close the Ashley Youth Detention Centre as another allegation of misconduct at the notorious facility emerges. Here’s the latest.

Ashley Youth Detention Centre near Westbury in northern Tasmania.

A worker has been stood down after another allegation of misconduct made by a detainee at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre — as calls for the notorious facility to be closed continued in state parliament.

A government spokeswoman confirmed a recent report on behalf of a detainee was being looked at.

“Third party information relating to a detainee is being assessed by Tasmania Police,” she said.

“The government cannot comment further on a matter being assessed by Tasmania Police.”

Further information was sought from Tasmania Police.

Mediation talks in a multimillion dollar class action brought by more than 130 former detainees at the notorious detention centre are into their second week.

Minister for Children and Young People Roger Jaensch. Picture: Linda Higginson

In state parliament on Thursday, Minister for Children and Young People Roger Jaensch would give no commitment to enacting a Legislative Council motion to urgently establish a taskforce to empty Ashley.

Nearly three years after the government pledged to close the century-old facility, the minister confirmed recent talks with community groups to try to find alternatives.

“Sitting at the table with a range of service providers the other day, we agreed that none of our community service provider organisations are in a position to be a detention facility,” he said.

“We are talking about the smaller number of young people on remand who, with their legal teams and families, choose to apply for bail.

“We need to assess their individual needs and where we can match that with capability in the sector, we will do that.

“We have committed to working closely with the sector to do that, acknowledging that we are not going to be able to get all possible service providers around the table for every single case.”

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

TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone said community groups were ready to work with the government to get children out of Ashley.

“TasCOSS and a group of community service organisations recently had a constructive conversation with the Minister about the support we can provide and we look forward to working collaboratively with the government on progressing this crucial work to implement a therapeutic response which upholds the safety and wellbeing of young people and provides the necessary resources and supports to aid their rehabilitation,” she said.

Independent member for Clark Kristie Johnston said she was frustrated that Mr Jaensch appeared to be refusing to establish a taskforce to remove children from Ashley.

“TasCOSS, the Children’s Commissioner and the Legislative Council have all called for the urgent establishment of this task force, and it’s disappointing and extremely disrespectful that the Minister is not only turning his back on these organisations but effectively turning his back on those young people currently incarcerated at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre,” she said.

Independent member for Clark Kristie Johnston. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings made it perfectly clear that the Ashley Youth Detention Centre should closed as a matter of priority.

“I call on the Premier to intervene and override his Minister and collaborate with these community organisations to urgently establish this taskforce to get these children out of Ashley as soon as possible.”