Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tasmanians are horrified by the reports of systemic harm and abuse on young detainees at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Moreover, the evidence of physical and sexual abuse, inhumane isolation practices and strip and internal cavity searches of children have been condemned by Tasmania's children's commissioner, the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Amnesty International and UNICEF. Most recently, the report of Tasmania's commission of inquiry into child sexual abuse saw the commissioners flag that, despite consistent warnings and condemnation over years, there remains a live and current risk of sexual abuse to children in the facility. No wonder they called for the centre to be closed urgently and no wonder many people, including me, have no confidence the abuse isn't continuing, even as I speak.

I raise this because, while in 2021 the Tasmanian government committed to closing the facility by 2024, they now appear to be walking this commitment back, even though the government have at hand literally reems of evidence of the appalling misconduct at Ashley. In other words, the Tasmanian state government will be complicit in any harm and abuse continuing at the centre. However, what's needed is clear: the Tasmanian government must act. They must listen to the commissioners and the voices of those who came forward to the commission of inquiry, and they must close Ashley immediately—not next year, not next month, immediately.