Ms ROSOL question to MINISTER for JUSTICE, CORRECTIONS and REHABILITATION, Mr BARNETT
Thank you, honourable Speaker. Children continue to be held in adult prison watch houses despite a clear recommendation from the Custodial Inspector last year that this practice must stop. These children are exposed to violence, abuse and threats, and their rights are violated by what is effectively a form of state‑sanctioned child abuse. After everything we learned through the commission of inquiry (COI), this is completely unacceptable. It was reported yesterday that the Department of Justice is looking into whether part of a Tasmanian court can be redeveloped into a child‑specific remand area to avoid putting children in adult prison watch houses. This sounds like little more than a vague possibility designed to distract from consistent inaction. Do you have a plan, with timelines, to stop the use of adult watch houses for children or not?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for her question. Caring for children at any stage is important for our government, particularly in our justice and corrections systems. It’s Corrections and Rehabilitation; that’s why I often stress the importance of rehabilitation. Regarding watch houses, you will be aware of the work we are undertaking on a business case for the Launceston Reception Prison, and the work my department is doing with the Department for Education, Children and Young People. That work is ongoing. I’m happy to provide further updates to you and honourable members of this House. I think your question was about the Hobart Reception Prison. I’m happy to get that information and come back to you.
Supplementary Question
Ms ROSOL – Thank you, minister, for the promise of more information. The COI recommendation 12.11(c) calls for increasing the minimum age of detention, including in remand, to 16 years, and the Minister for Children and Youth has effectively passed off responsibility for children held in prison watch houses. Given that there’s so little work on alternatives in the prison, will you commit to prioritising this COI recommendation as an alternative approach to ending children’s detention in prison watch houses?
Mr BARNETT – We do consider a priority for the response to the Commission of Inquiry, 191 recommendations of which we have committed to. We are progressing our work through those over a number of years. There’s a huge amount of work that’s been going into that. We’ve committed to implementing those recommendations and that’s progressing. The safety of our children is a top priority, including in our corrective services. In terms of the detention of young people in watch houses, it’s not a Tasmanian-specific issue. I think you’re aware of the use of watch house facilities for adults and young people across all jurisdictions for transitional periods during justice processes. You know that’s required. We’re working our way through that. In terms of the earlier question that you asked, I will respond to the honourable member.
