‘Concerning’ proposal for troubled youth detention hub
A troubled youth detention center will become a minimum security adult prison under a government plan, despite warnings from a child sex abuse investigation that such a move could re-traumatise.
Former detainees have given evidence of horrific physical and sexual abuse at the Tasmanian Youth Detention Center in an inquest that concluded in 2021.
The investigation recommended the state government close the centre, located about 50km west of Launceston, as soon as possible.
It is scheduled to close in 2028, after a new therapeutic youth justice facility is built, despite the government’s original commitment to close by the end of 2024.
The government says conditions at the center are now safer and improvements such as more CCTV cameras have been made.
On Tuesday, he announced his intention to transform the center into a minimum-security adult prison and agriculture-based inmate rehabilitation and education facility.
About 40 minimum security inmates are expected to be housed there.
Minister for Justice, Corrections and Rehabilitation Guy Barnett said: “This decision builds on our government’s ongoing commitment to providing greater rehabilitation opportunities for offenders.”
“The establishment of a low-security farm prison will support rural education and employment initiatives that serve as an important pathway for offender reintegration.”
The community will be consulted on the plan, as the transition of the center is proposed to occur after the new youth justice facility is built.
The inquiry’s final report raised concerns about plans to turn the center into an adult reformatory.
“Many children and youth detained at the Ashley Youth Detention Center continue to serve sentences in adult prison,” the statement said.
“We are therefore concerned that victims of child sexual abuse may be sent, as adults, to an adult prison where the abuse occurred.
“This will probably be re-traumatizing.”
The inquiry recommended that the state government ensure that no person previously detained at the center is housed in an adult facility in the same area unless they wish to do so.
The government has said it will accept all recommendations from the inquiry.
In 2024, a $75 million court settlement was approved for 129 former detainees related to mistreatment at the center from 1960 to 2023.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
