The Greens echo statements from the Tasmanian NPM Richard Connock, who has called for funding to adequately fulfill his office’s important work. It follows the tabling in Parliament of the supplementary report into the establishment of the Office of the National Preventative Mechanism, which focussed on preventing torture and ill-treatment in residential health and care settings.
The National Preventative Mechanism is vital to prevent inhumane treatment and torture of Tasmanians in places where their freedoms are restricted. It must be funded adequately to be able to undertake its important work in institutions such as prisons, youth detention, mental health facilities and aged care.
The Liberals have allocated a meagre $300,000 in funding to the Office of National Preventative Mechanism, when $4.2 million is needed, according to Connock. During Budget Estimates, Minister Ogilvie admitted she was concerned about this unacceptable underfunding.
The Tasmanian Government has a sorry history of ill-treatment of vulnerable people in institutional settings. The Liberal Government must ensure that the Office of the National Preventative Mechanism has the funding it needs to prevent torture and inhuman treatment of Tasmanians.
