Ashley Youth Detention Centre closure delayed again, to 2028, as replacement master plan unveiledCBy Clancy BalenTopic:Justice System2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 1:49amThe Ashley Youth Detention Centre was examined in the state's commission of inquiry into institutional abuse. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)In short: A master plan for the replacement to the troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Deloraine has been released by the Tasmanian government.Minister for Children and Youth Roger Jaensch says construction on the Pontville sight will begin this year, with an expected completion date of late-2027. Ashley will close after that date.What's next?Mr Jaensch says the government will introduce legislation in parliament on Tuesday to "ensure certainty for time frames for the approval process" for the new centre.abc.net.au/news/tas-ashley-youth-detention-centre-closure-change/105252698Link copiedShareShare articleThe Tasmanian government has again delayed the closure of the troubled Ashley Youth Detention centre, saying construction on a new replacement facility will likely not be complete until the end of 2027.Labelled a "gladiator pit" and a "prison for kids", the Ashley Youth Detention Centre was a focus of the state's Commission of Inquiry into Government Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings in 2022.Minister Roger Jaensch speaks about the new Pontville youth justice centre. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)Sexual assault support services:Sexual Assault Support Service (Tasmania): 1800 697 8771800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732Sexual Assault Counselling Australia: 1800 211 028Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors): 1800 272 831Laurel House Northern Tasmania: (03) 6334 2740Laurel House North West Tasmania: (03) 6431 9711Blue Knot Foundation: 1300 657 380It recommended the facility be closed as soon as possible, with the government originally planning to do so by the end of 2024.The date was later shifted to 2026.On Monday, Children and Youth Minister Roger Jaensch unveiled the government's master plan for the new facility, which will be built in Pontville, north of Hobart, with construction expected to begin this year.He said construction was set to be completed by the end of 2027 and then Ashley will close sometime after that, likely in early 2028.Mr Jaensch said the government remained "100 per cent committed" to closing the current facility, but it could not be done without a new, operational facility ready to go."We cannot do it before we have a new functional detention facility," Mr Jaensch said."We believe, and with the support of the parliament, with the bill that we're tabling tomorrow, that we can see the new facility built before the end of 2027 and the closure of Ashley shortly thereafter."Asked if early 2028 was the new closure date for Ashley, Mr Jaensch said: "That would be the first opportunity."Tasmania to pay $75m to kids whose lives were ruined at a prison which is still openPhoto shows Hands clasping at prison cell bars, good generic for prison, detention, jail, confinementTaxpayers up for $75 million in compensation to former inmates, a government that is very sorry and promising it'll never happen again — but still no date for the promised closure of Tasmania's notorious youth prison Ashley.He said the state government would release a bill on Monday, to be tabled in parliament on Tuesday, to "ensure certainty for time frames for the approval process" for the new centre.New facility to have 16-person capacityAccording to the master plan, the facility will be smaller than the current youth detention centre, with a capacity for 16 young people.The new facility, Mr Jaensch said, will focus on providing a "therapeutic youth justice model"."Very clearly, we do not intend to close the Ashley Youth Detention Centre and replace it with something which looks and works the same as Ashley," Mr Jaensch said.Peter Witcombe says the new facility will operate differently to Ashley. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)There will be two further "orientation beds" for when they come in, and two more beds for "health needs", the deputy secretary for child and safety justice operations, Peter Whitcombe, said.According to Mr Whitcombe, Ashley currently has 20 spaces for young people, "give or take".Government's changing plansThe government has long planned to replace the notorious northern Tasmania youth justice facility.Last November, Premier Jeremy Rockliff gave an apology to 129 former detainees — a condition of the $75 million settlement the state agreed to pay for decades of alleged abuse at the facility.In 2022, the Tasmanian government announced five purpose-built facilities with a preventative, rather than punishment focus, to replace Ashley.These were to include a detention centre in the south, two assisted bail facilities in the north and south, and two supported residential facilities in the north and south.Ashley Youth prison replacement plan shelvedPhoto shows A sign saying 'Ashley Youth Detention Centre' outside some fencing.A plan to build five facilities with a "therapeutic" approach to youth detention — to fill the gap when Tasmania's Ashley youth detention centre closes — appears to have been placed on the backburner, with the minister insisting it's not about cost.Last October, the plan changed.Four of the five facilities were placed on the back burner, with the focus moved to building one new youth detention facility in Pontville.Mr Jaensch said at the time that the government would instead invest in existing providers, facilities and services, but left the door open for future facilities to be built.These, he said at the time, may still be built if the government found there was not enough capacity within the sector.Posted 2h ago2 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 1:49am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 2:31amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleFirst Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereAAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows man with a bald head and glasses faces a man with blond hairOutgoing Liberals blast Angus Taylor, party's lack of womenTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows Hollie Hughes dstopRelated storiesAshley youth detention replacement plan shelved as government looks to fund existing servicesTopic:PrisonsPhoto shows A sign saying 'Ashley Youth Detention Centre' outside some fencing.Related topicsHobartJustice SystemPontvilleTop StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsFirst Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereAAnalysis by Alan KohlerOutgoing Liberals blast Angus Taylor, party's lack of womenTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaJust InRevolver nightclub groper avoids jail after assaulting 17 womenTopic:Sexual Offences6m ago6 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:05amAlbanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal Government12m ago12 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:00amYouth to drive Popovic's Socceroos, but one rising star is yet to commitTopic:Socceroos29m ago29 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 3:43amHeritage push for phone box that was lifeline during bushfiresTopic:Information and Communication32m ago32 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 3:40amMore Just InBack to top