Union fears Ashley Youth Detention Centre cuts will put staff at risk
The Tasmanian Government's plan to shed staff at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre near Deloraine in the state's north is being resisted by the health workers' union.
During last year's election campaign, Human Services Minister Jacqui Petrusma flagged plans to refocus spending on community youth justice programs.
While on the campaign trail last March, Ms Petrusma said: "Ashley is one part of a total youth justice picture that is needed, but we would rather see more money being injected into our community youth justice system."
Robbie Moore, from the Health and Community Services Union, said that policy meant about a quarter of the centre's staff would be let go over the course of this year, which he claimed would put those who stay on at risk.
He said even if the number of young people housed at Ashley was reduced, staff levels would need to be maintained for safety reasons.
Mr Moore also said one worker at Ashley was seriously assaulted by a young person in January.
"We've had members that have been significantly injured at work," he said.
"Any further reduction in staffing levels without addressing these safety issues to us would put our members in immediate danger."
Ashley 'dramatically overstaffed': Petrusma
In a statement, Ms Petrusma dismissed Mr Moore's concerns as "scare-mongering" and described the centre as "dramatically overstaffed".
Ms Petrusma said Ashley was staffed for a maximum of 30 detainees but the average daily number of young people detained at the centre was consistently much lower.
As a result, she said, the government planned to maintain the ratio of detainees to workers, but would assume a population of 24 detainees.
The State Government has committed to reducing the Health and Human Services workforce by 224 full-time roles by July, and as of December 31, had only cut 168 roles.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein revealed on Wednesday he handed the department an additional $10 million for the current financial year to help pay out departing staff.
