Ms BADGER (Lyons) – Deputy Speaker, I rise to speak on the most critical matter of public importance – the children in Ashley Youth Detention Centre. The commission of inquiry made it very clear that there are live and current risks for children at Ashley Youth Detention Centre. In fact, they were already expressing concerns about delays in closing the centre. I quote from the commission of inquiry report:
The Tasmanian Government has previously announced its intention to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre by the end of 2024.
On 13 July 2023, minister Jaensch cast doubt on that closure date. While we acknowledge the government’s reinstated commitment to closing Ashley Youth Detention Centre, we are gravely concerned by any suggestion of further delay. To be clear, those grave concerns relate to any further delay beyond the end of 2024.
The minister has suggested that 2026 would be viewed as an acceptable solution by the commissioners. This is false and the minister should stop pretending otherwise. Not only are we seeing these alarming delays to closing Ashley, but we are also seeing the government pursue policies that are directly at odds with the commission of inquiry’s report recommendations and the government’s own youth justice plan.
As the Greens’ police spokesperson, I, like many others, are alarmed by the government’s so-called Strikeforce policy. For those who might not be following along so closely, last year the government announced plans to employ high-visibility policing and crack down on young offenders with punitive actions. Then, at the election, the government doubled down on this tough-on-crime stance, announcing a Strikeforce that would target youth. In announcing this policy, the police minister used language that should never be repeated.
This government adopted the Strikeforce policy without even consulting the children’s commissioner. After the policy was announced she made her views very clear that punitive, populist, tough-on-crime announcements might make for good media but they do not make Tasmanian communities safer. We cannot arrest our way out of these complex problems.
The commissioner is spot on. There is evidence from other jurisdictions that it is therapeutic justice that really works. That is something that the government says they are aiming for through their youth justice blueprint, but the results speak for themselves. The percentage of youth subject to diversions from police instead of court actions has decreased from 54 per cent to 43.3 per cent, and that number is only going to fall further under this government Strikeforce policy, meaning that more children are subject to unnecessary harm.
The commissioner for children has also made very clear her concerns about what this policy means for Ashley. She has pointed out that it is resulting in more children being sent to Ashley, and she has highlighted how the greater number of children at Ashley makes the centre less safe and leads to more frequent violations of the rights of children at the centre.
Make no mistake, the Strikeforce policy is making it harder to close Ashley. That alone makes it directly contrary to the commission of inquiry report. Of course, we know it contradicts the fundamental point made by the commission of inquiry about the need to pursue therapeutic approaches to youth justice.
Let us be very clear: so long as it continues with this policy, the government cannot say that it is following the recommendations of the commission of inquiry. It is a deep shame on the Premier and every member of this Cabinet. On behalf of the Greens, I again call on the government to abandon its Strikeforce policy as a matter of urgency.
