Youth detention payout determined
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A $75 million settlement has been approved by the Tasmanian Supreme Court to compensate 129 men who suffered abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC).
The class action alleged decades of mistreatment, including strip searches, isolation, physical abuse, and staff-incited violence at the facility, which operated from 1960 to 2023.
Justice Stephen Estcourt sanctioned the agreement, marking a significant legal and moral acknowledgment of the harm inflicted on detainees.
Lawyer Angela Sdrinis, who spearheaded the case, criticised the Tasmanian government’s inaction over the years.
“Today, the state is paying the price for these failings,” she said, describing the settlement as “another step in the process of healing” for the victims.
The settlement provides financial compensation and additional support services, including trauma and financial counselling.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff will also issue personalised apologies to the survivors as part of the resolution.
The AYDC has been under intense scrutiny following a state inquiry into child sexual abuse within government institutions.
The inquiry identified the facility as a “live” risk to children and recommended its closure by July 2026.
The report’s findings have spurred widespread calls for immediate action, with Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff emphasising the ongoing threat.
“This result is not just about the past - it’s about the present too,” Woodruff said, urging the government to expedite the closure.
Premier Rockliff acknowledged the gravity of the situation in a letter to the plaintiffs, apologising on behalf of the Tasmanian government and its predecessors for the abuses that occurred under state care.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to closing the centre and replacing it with a smaller, therapeutic facility in line with recommendations for youth justice reform.
The Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, described the resolution as a significant legal milestone, expressing gratitude to those who came forward.
The government is reportedly advancing a Youth Justice blueprint to prioritise rehabilitation over punitive measures. However, advocates and political leaders continue to press for more urgent reforms to protect vulnerable children from ongoing risks.
