The National Network welcome the Tasmanian government’s recent acknowledgment that investing in more carceral facilities and children’s cages is not the solution. However, we urge the government to go further by committing to the closure of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre without delay. This facility has long been a symbol of violence, trauma, and systemic failure, and delaying its closure only prolongs the suffering of vulnerable children.
‘The horrors uncovered by the Commission of Inquiry into Government Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings have shown why any further investment in children’s prisons is unacceptable,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Instead, the National Network call on the Tasmanian government to invest significantly in community-based services that are non carceral in nature—services that focus on keeping children safe, supported, and connected with their families and communities,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘While we recognise the government’s shift toward utilising existing services and facilities to support children within their communities, we must emphasise that this strategy still prioritises intervention after children have already gotten into trouble,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘What we need is a fundamental change in approach: one that invests in children and young people early on, keeping them in school, their homes and their communities, providing them and their families with the resources they need to thrive,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Children should not be pipelined into prisons or punitive systems as a default when they fail to comply with community based alternatives. True justice for young people requires a shift away from the ‘punish and detain’ model,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘The National Network urge the government to focus on measures that exist outside of the carceral system, such as educational support, mental health services, and financial assistance for families, so children can be supported to stay safely in their homes, rather than being removed to out-of-home care settings,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘Moreover, the government’s approach to alternative custody options must not be under-resourced or treated as an afterthought. For community services to effectively support children, they must be adequately funded and staffed, ensuring children and young people’s complex needs are met. We need systems that provide genuine support, not just alternatives that shift children from one harmful environment or service to another,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The National Network also reiterate our call for the Ashley Youth Detention Centre to close as soon as possible, with no further delays. The funds that have been earmarked for replacing Ashley children’s prison with smaller detention facilities would be far better spent on properly funded, non carceral community services and resources that prioritise the well-being and development of children and young people—keeping them in their homes and communities, not in institutions,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Tasmania has the opportunity to lead the way for children and young people by demonstrating a commitment to non-carceral solutions, early intervention, and real support for families. Let’s focus on creating a system that protects our children’s futures, not one that criminalises them,’ said Tabitha Lean.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226