Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for EDUCATION, CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE, Mr JAENSCH
The commission of inquiry report unequivocally states the use of isolation practices at Ashley Youth Detention Centre is a violation of the human rights of children and young people. It highlights how departmental staff accepted this fact as early as 2016 and documents how the concerns raised in subsequent years by children's commissioners, the Custodial Inspector, an independent investigation and a United Nations committee have been ignored by your Government. About your so-called restrictive practices, the commission says:
These practices are isolation by another name, are human rights abuses and have the same impact as other isolation practices on children's health and wellbeing.
Whatever words you choose to use, the experience for children at Ashley is the same. That experience is regular isolation, a clear breach of their human rights occurring now on your watch. Do you agree the situation is fundamentally unacceptable, and will you give the House a concrete time line for the closure of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for Franklin for her question. I acknowledge the people present in the Chamber today, and in the gallery, and thank them for their courage in bringing forward information and their stories as part of this process.
In relation to restrictive practices at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, we have addressed this before here. I am advised by the department that for the safety of young people and staff at Ashley, there are certain staffing ratios that must be met. These are assessed prior to the commencement of each shift.
Through the year, where required staffing ratios have not been able to be met, young people have been managed in their rooms with rotating time out to participate in programs and activities. I understand that these ratios can be influenced both by the number of young people in detention at the time, as well as fluctuations in staff availability due to illness and other matters.
Centre staff continue to support young people during periods of restrictive practice, including through exercise breaks, access to phone calls, programs and activities, and schooling can also continue. On my visit to Ashley last week, I was told about how the education teams are able to work with young people in their units during periods of restricted practice as well. Ongoing psychological support through telehealth services is available to young people on a weekly basis, combined with regular visits from the onsite case manager. In addition, a psychiatrist attends Ashley monthly and a general practitioner also attends the centre every week as part of their practice, and general practitioners provide primary mental health care as well.
For completeness, I can advise that the numbers of young people and staffing in Ashley has been stabilised recently. The sitrep for today indicates that, for the last few days, a full program of activities including external providers visiting, has been able to be offered there. I commend everybody in those operations for managing through those situations.
Dr Woodruff - When are you going to close Ashley, minister?
Mr SPEAKER - Order.
Mr JAENSCH - As the Premier has said, and as the commission has very strongly recommended, Ashley Youth Detention Centre will be closed as soon as possible. We announced yesterday -
Dr Woodruff - Point of order, 45. I have asked the minister to give the timeline of the closure. Concrete timeline.
Mr SPEAKER - Order. The minister has the call.
Mr JAENSCH - As I have said publicly before -
Dr Woodruff - You have an obligation to fulfil all the recommendations.
Mr SPEAKER - Order, order.
Dr Woodruff - What does it mean?
Mr JAENSCH - The commission of inquiry report acknowledges whilst Ashley must be closed as a matter of urgency, and without further delay, they also acknowledge that there are no alternatives at the moment for placement of young people -
Dr Woodruff - All your failures. What are you going to do about it?
Mr SPEAKER - Order.
Mr JAENSCH - and their report indicates that their acceptance that process may take a couple of years. What I have undertaken to do, and I spoke about this -
Dr Woodruff - You have already taken two years.
Mr SPEAKER - Order.
Mr JAENSCH - I talked about this in Estimates - Mr Speaker, I ask you to stop the clock while the interjections are running so that I can answer this question.
Dr Woodruff - Just answer the question.
Mr SPEAKER - Order, order. I will stop the clock if necessary. Interjections should cease. The minister should be allowed to be heard in silence and be able to answer his question. Please do not interrupt anymore.
Mr JAENSCH - Dr Woodruff, as your question asked for a concrete timeline to deliver the new replacement facility for Ashley, I have given the undertaking that we will provide a timeline for the project of delivering that alternative site based on the actual site and actual design and a program of works not a political timeframe.
Dr Woodruff - When will you do that?
Mr SPEAKER - Order.
