Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
The commission of inquiry wrapped up early, citing the live and current risk to children and young people in Ashley. The commission’s clear direction to the government was to close it ASAP and end the suffering and trauma of young people in it. Your minister has just admitted that there is no date for closure and young people will likely be left there until 2030 and beyond. Worse, he is blaming advocates for calling out the harmful place that Ashley still is and for its urgent closure. If you cannot get it built within the timeframe the commission of inquiry wanted, does that not mean you should put more money into making sure that this happens? Will you step in and make sure another generation of Tasmanian lives are not living in that hellhole?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank Dr Woodruff for the question. We are stepping in. We stepped in and commissioned the inquiry and that is exactly what we have done and we will implement all 191 recommendations. We went through the timeline the other day with regard to design and construction and I put some timeline figures on the table in the scrutiny hearing that I was in. Minister Jaensch also discussed this matter at length, given it is his direct responsibility.
We are acting on all 191 recommendations. We accept the enormous failures of past and present governments of the protection of children and young people. We are working very diligently, not only on the new site at Pontville but also the system improvement and the investments, regarding out‑of‑home care, government or institutional settings as well, and system improvement, investment and accountability.
We have spoken in recent times in this place about the monitor. The Attorney‑General answered that question yesterday. As evidenced by the work and the evidence presented to the scrutiny committee a week or so ago, there have been enormous strides in implementing the recommendations, some into phase 2. We will continue to methodically work, in a measured but very purposeful approach, to ensure that the 191 recommendations, and more, are delivered. I said I wanted a child safety system and the protection of young people to be nation‑leading. I believe we can ensure that it is nation‑leading. That will absolutely be the work that we will undertake from now until all 191 recommendations, and more, are completed.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary.
Dr WOODRUFF – From your answer, can you confirm that you are comfortable with the glacial progress that has been laid out? This is not what the commission of inquiry recommended. They said ‘ urgent’ and ‘as soon as possible.’
Mr ROCKLIFF – I think that has been a slightly different question. That is a very serious matter, for which we collectively take responsibility. I say collectively in terms of scrutiny of this place. We are the government of the day that will implement the 191 recommendations. We will get the job done for the Pontville site as soon as possible. I put on the record the expected time frame in terms of design and construct in the committee hearing the other day.
Dr Woodruff – You are at the landscaping stage.
Member – Shush.
Member – Did you just shush her?
Member – Yes, he did.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We are moving in a very purposeful way.
The SPEAKER – I am sorry, members on my left, the minister is attempting to answer. Premier, continue.
Mr ROCKLIFF – As I said in my previous answer, we are moving in a very purposeful way. We are implementing not only the 191 recommendations, which include the Pontville facility.
