Change the Record welcomes the long overdue Gutwein Government’s decision to close the notorious Ashley Youth Prison, and calls on the government to show leadership and #RaiseTheAge.
The Ashely Youth Prison has been wracked with reports of physical and sexual abuse, bullying and incompetence. Its closure is long overdue. Change the Record, Australia’s only First Nations-led justice coalition, calls on the Tasmanian Government to take this opportunity to reset the state’s approach to children and invest in evidence-based, effective, community-driven alternatives to locking children away.
Cheryl Axleby, Change the Record Co-Chair:
“It is a relief that finally the Ashley Youth Prison is destined to close - but it is too little too late. We have known about the serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse for years, yet successive governments kept sending our kids into danger to score political points. Enough is enough. We have an opportunity now to do things differently and we urgently, and sincerely, call on the Gutwein Government to use this moment to show leadership and commit to raising the age and treating our kids better.
“Shutting the Ashley Youth Prison is a crucial first step, but it is just that - one step. If the Gutwein Government just replaces it with two more prisons to warehouse our kids, we will change nothing for future generations. We are calling on Premier Gutwein to seize this moment to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years old, and invest in community-driven programs that are run for and by Aboriginal people.
“This is an opportunity for Premier Gutwein to take real strides to closing the gap on youth justice and ending the travesty that sees First Nations children locked away at such horrendous rates. He could change the lives of hundreds of our children by committing to raise the age.
“The community has been clear: they support raising the age to at least 14 years old. Will Premier Gutwein listen to our mob, doctors, legal experts and the broader community and raise the age?”