Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Human Services spokesperson
Today’s Report on Government Services (ROGs) chapter on youth justice exposes a harsh approach to youth justice in Tasmania and reinforces the Greens' position to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
The latest RoGS reveal Tasmania had the highest rate of assaults and self-harm in custody. That is a damning indictment on the current youth justice system.
The report also shows that Tasmania is lagging when it comes to developing case plans for community-based orders.
Thankfully, Tasmania still has the nation's lowest rates of incarceration, but this is of little comfort to those who do end up in the State's broken detention system.
The Greens call on the Hodgman Liberal Government to adopt a genuinely therapeutic model of youth detention, like the one outlined in the Greens' 'Alternatives to Ashley' policy, and to properly fund community sentencing orders.
The government needs to urgently update Tasmanians on the progress of their youth justice options' paper.
If the Liberals don't address the failings of Ashley and the current harsh system, it will be a lost opportunity to give damaged young people another chance and keep our community safer.