Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Premier, were you briefed about Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean’s comments on ABC Radio this morning? She said the number of children in Ashley Youth Detention Centre has been on a sustained rise and is at the highest levels for over a decade, with 26 children and young people there this week. She called the situation for children intolerable, with basic rights still being violated. She has blasted your competing policy agendas like Strike Force, saying there are resources free flowing into tough‑on‑crime measures, but diversionary approaches remain largely unfunded. Under your approach, she said we will see a rise in the children in detention with the higher numbers of children in Ashley Youth Detention Centre, making it an even less safe place. Do you admit your approach to youth crime utterly contradicts the commission of inquiry’s findings and is making children at Ashley Youth Detention Centre less safe? Will you abandon your harmful approach and adopt the call from the commissioner to set up an urgent task force to reduce the number of children in detention?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member, Dr Woodruff, for what is a very important question, and I will come to the substance of the question in just a moment.
We will always be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We can do both, Dr Woodruff. The minister received Ms McLean’s letter late yesterday, I understand. As always, we welcome the commissioner’s input and as Ms McLean would be aware, we are doing a considerably large amount of work in this area. It is a major focus for me, for the minister and the entire government.
We are currently scoping the measure Ms McLean is advocating for. The government holds constant briefings with the commissioner. I am advised that we will ensure Ms McLean is up to date on the work being undertaken in this area. I reiterate my very clear intention to close Ashley as soon as possible, which you have been advocating for. I understand the minister has spoken to the commissioner as well in the last 12 to 15 hours – or last night and we will continue to engage with the commissioner and key stakeholders, including TasCOSS as we progress our youth justice reform, which includes identifying capacity within the sector to deliver on community‑based solutions.
We will also shortly be convening our community engagement group, which I believe was the other part of your question, Dr Woodruff, which will operate as a forum of representatives from those key community service organisations to provide input into youth justice reform within Tasmania.
Dr WOODRUFF – Premier, you mentioned TasCOSS. TasCOSS has just put out a media release. Your engagements with the Commissioner for Children and TasCOSS seem to have not been listening to what they are calling for.
Members interjecting.
Dr WOODRUFF – Will you take up TasCOSS call and the commissioners to have an urgent response and involve them in that?
Madam SPEAKER – Leader of the Greens, supplementaries are allowed on the basis that they are short and brief. The Premier did talk about his consultative group, if the Premier has something to add, then I will take it; but the supplementary questions need to be very quick – about the composition of that grouping of the consultation. Thank you.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you, Madam Speaker. We were always engaged with key stakeholders in this very important area when it comes youth justice reform or when it comes to the commission of inquiry and the recommendations. The stakeholders that you have mentioned, including TasCOSS, are very important stakeholders in this engagement process and that is exactly what we will be doing and will continue doing.
Members – Hear, hear.
