Safety of children must be priority

Tasmanian Labor

The
Liberal Government must guarantee that children and young people currently
detained at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre are safe.

Shadow
Minister for Child Safety Sarah Lovell said the government had once again
failed to provide clear details regarding Ashley’s closure over the next three
years.

“With
so many deeply concerning reports of a potentially unsafe environment for
children and young people at Ashley, the government needs a transition plan for
staff, children and young people,” Ms Lovell said.

“The
government has outlined its plan for the closure of the centre, yet we have
heard no such plan regarding staff and what will happen to programs for
children at Ashley if they leave to seek job security.

“Staff
shortages increase risks to detainees and limit the availability of support, it
is vital the safety of children remains front of mind when making decisions
surrounding the closure.”

Ms
Lovell said at the same time, the number of children referred to Child Safety
for investigation but who were not allocated a case worker within the accepted
timeframes had blown out, from 18 children in April 2020, to 105 children at
the end of August this year.

“What
are the government doing to turn this terrible situation around?

“Despite
the Minister’s rhetoric, the number of children at risk and without a case
worker has continued to grow.

“Today’s
first public hearing of Tasmania’s Commission of Inquiry into child sex abuse
has shone a light on failures to keep Tasmanian children safe, in both the out
of home care system and in the youth justice system.

“The government need to seriously look at how they can fast track the two new youth detention facilities, they must make the safety of children a priority.”

Sarah Lovell MLC

Shadow Minister for Child Safety

/Public Release. View in full here.