Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Madam Speaker, at the outset, I must say I am shocked that we are only getting a five-minute response time for this debate. I would have expected 30 minutes for leaders.
I acknowledge all the victim/survivors who are watching today and who have been waiting to hear the government’s response to this very important phase 1of the of the responding and action on the implementation of the commission of inquiry’s recommendations. There is no more important work for our government and this parliament to make sure that our institutions, agencies are safe for young people. Every child deserves to live a life without living with the lifelong trauma that victim/survivors live with, of abuse that has happened.
Child sex abuse is an evil that is fuelled by the indifference of those who are meant to care but refuse to act. Accountability for governments is about prevention. This government is responsible for acting on the commission of inquiry’s report and this parliament is responsible for scrutinising the government’s actions. In that light, we do not accept the Premier’s statements, which he has made multiple times, that the election had no impact on the response of the government to the commission of inquiry. The Premier has just confirmed himself that the election did delay the response by the caretaker period and the lack of ability to progress reforms in that area. That is not an honest statement, and I would hope the Premier corrects the record.
I will go to the two critical things that are outstanding failures of this government to act on the commission of inquiry’s reports. Before I do that, I welcome and thank the government for the work they have done. There is no doubt a lot of work has been done. However, there were two reasons the commission of inquiry wrapped up its work early: to make the point to the government and the people of Tasmania that the most critical issues that must be acted on were out‑of‑home care and Ashley Youth Detention Centre because, in those two areas, children today are at risk of child sexual abuse. The commissioners were very clear about that.
Premier, you just tossed off a one‑paragraph discussion about out‑of-home care. You say the recommendation from the commission of inquiry to provide one‑off and increased ongoing funding for out‑of-home care reforms has been impacted by the delay of the 2024 Budget and will be addressed as part of the Budget in September. You have objectively now failed to do the recommendation that the commission has called for. You had two opportunities: a supplementary appropriation bill last year and this year’s supply bills were both opportunities to immediately increase funding for out‑of‑home care, in full as well as ongoing, as the commissioners called for. You are now failing to provide the money needed for out‑of-home care to keep children safe.
Regarding the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, it is deeply depressing to see that there is no money or detail on youth therapeutic reforms, and the work that needs to be done to keep children from funnelling every single day into Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Your promise of CCTV cameras, body‑worn cameras, and so on, is great. You promised that 18 months ago. Where is the money and why is it yet to happen? What is obviously happening here under your guidance is a government working at odds with the commission of inquiry’s call for therapeutic justice.
There are two things going on. There is a public-facing conversation about the importance of therapeutic justice in order to keep children safe and out of Ashley. There is also a tough‑on-crime agenda which, under your guidance and acceptance, is being run by your Police minister. That imperative to keep children off the streets means you are putting the money into that area for children who commit crime. However, you are not assisting them in order to prevent them going to Ashley Youth Detention Centre where, as we know, children are suffering every day.
We call on you to not be the Premier who fails to keep children safe in Ashley, to listen to the community and work with the Tasmanian Council of Social Service and the commissioner for children to do something today.
