Brave whistleblowers expose one of Australia's worst child abuse scandals | 60 Minutes Australia

Summary

The script reveals a harrowing exposé on the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania, detailing a history of child abuse and cover-ups spanning decades. Whistleblowers like Alicia bravely bring to light the horrifying conditions, where vulnerable inmates faced sexual and physical assault, and the systemic failure to protect them. The script also uncovers the case of James Griffin, a known abuser who was shockingly employed at the center, highlighting the state's negligence in preventing such abuses.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Whistleblower Alicia exposed a dark secret involving child abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania, which powerful people had ignored or tried to cover up.
• 🏭 The Ashley Youth Detention Centre is described as a 'prison of shame' with a horrific history of harm and abuse towards children over a hundred years.
• 👩‍⚖️ Alicia was employed to help rehabilitate children but quickly discovered staff with harmful agendas and verbal abuse towards the inmates.
• 🚨 Evidence of sexual assault and mistreatment was covered up by the staff, with victims like a young female inmate left unattended and abused by male inmates.
• 🗣️ Alicia reported the abuse internally but faced a lack of response and even threats, with a culture of 'what happens in Ashley stays in Ashley'.
• 👥 Multiple victims, including 'Rachel' and 'Andrea', shared their stories of sexual assault and abuse by staff, which were routinely ignored or inadequately addressed.
• 📈 The scale of the abuse is vast, with hundreds of alleged victims over many decades and a failure to report or act on credible allegations of sexual assault.
• 🚨 The case of James Griffin highlights systemic failures, as a known abuser was transferred to work at Ashley, putting more vulnerable children at risk.
• 💔 Victims like Tiffany Skeggs suffered for years due to the inaction of authorities, despite clear evidence of abuse and complaints from the public.
• 🛑 In response to the scandal, a commission of inquiry was called, and the Ashley detention centre was announced to be closed in three years, a move seen as too slow by whistleblowers.
• 📉 The impact of speaking out has been devastating for whistleblowers like Alicia, whose life has been upended, and for victims seeking justice and reform.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The script discusses a significant child abuse scandal at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania, Australia, where children were subjected to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse over many years.

Who is Alicia and what role does she play in the story?

Alicia is a whistleblower and a former staff member of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. She decided to speak up about the abuses happening within the facility despite the risks involved.

What kind of abuse did Alicia witness or become aware of at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre?

Alicia witnessed and became aware of verbal abuse, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and torture of young inmates by staff and other inmates.

What was the response of senior management when Alicia reported the abuses?

The response from senior management was inadequate and inappropriate, with no single incident reported by Alicia being addressed in a manner that was suitable for the protection of the children.

How did the abuse at Ashley Youth Detention Centre remain hidden for so long?

The abuse remained hidden due to a culture of silence and cover-ups within the institution, with a mantra of 'what happens in Ashley stays in Ashley' and threats to those who spoke out.

What actions did Alicia take after realizing the extent of the abuse?

Alicia escalated her reports internally and eventually became a whistleblower, deciding to speak publicly about the abuses to protect children and expose the truth.

Who is Tiffany Skeggs and how is she connected to the Ashley Youth Detention Centre scandal?

Tiffany Skeggs is a victim of child abuse by James Griffin, a suspected serial child sex offender who was later employed at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, despite being on the radar of authorities for years.

What was the role of James Griffin at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre and what is his history?

James Griffin was employed at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre as a staff member despite being suspected of being a serial child sex offender with a history of abuse.

What steps have been taken in response to the scandal at Ashley Youth Detention Centre?

In response to the scandal, a commission of inquiry into institutional abuse was called, and a class action lawsuit is being led by senior lawyer Angela Sadrinus on behalf of dozens of victims.

What is the current status of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre?

The centre is scheduled to be closed in three years, which is seen as a bittersweet victory as it means children will still be at risk until then.

How has speaking out impacted Alicia and Tiffany's lives?

Speaking out has completely upended and destroyed Alicia and Tiffany's lives, with both of them finding comfort in each other's company and the shared experiences of other victims and whistleblowers.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Whistleblower Exposes Youth Detention Center Abuse 🚨

The script begins with the introduction of a whistleblower named Alicia, who reveals the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania as a site of horrific abuse against children. Despite the picturesque setting, the center is described as a 'prison of shame' with a dark history of harm to children. Alicia, a former public official, shares her decision to speak out about the inhumane conditions and the sexual and mental abuse of the young inmates, despite the personal risks involved. The narrative also includes the experiences of a victim referred to as 'Rachel,' who endured sexual assault during her time at the center.

05:01

🌏 Systemic Failure to Protect: Ongoing Abuse at Youth Prison 🌏

This paragraph delves into the stories of abuse within the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, highlighting the experiences of several victims, including 'Rachel' and 'Andrea.' It describes the inadequate response from staff and management when allegations were made, often resulting in no meaningful consequences for the perpetrators. The narrative emphasizes the routine nature of the abuse and the culture of silence that was enforced, with the catchphrase 'what happens in Ashley stays in Ashley.' Alicia's role as a whistleblower is further explored, revealing the lack of action from senior management despite her reports of sexual assault.

10:03

😢 Decades of Unaddressed Abuse: The Ashley Scandal 😢

The script continues to unravel the history of abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, with a focus on the case of James Griffin, a known abuser who was shockingly employed at the center. The paragraph details Griffin's background, his grooming and abuse of 'Tiffany Skeggs' starting when she was 11, and the failure of authorities to act on multiple complaints against him. It also discusses the tragic consequences of this inaction, including the extended period of abuse Tiffany endured and the missed opportunity by Border Force to intervene.

15:04

🔍 The Ashley Youth Jail: A Haven for Predators 🔍

This section of the script focuses on the systemic issues that allowed the abuse at Ashley Youth Detention Centre to continue for decades. It discusses the case of 'Andrew,' a 14-year-old who was raped by an older inmate while under the supposed care of the center. The narrative highlights the lack of staff supervision and the failure to protect vulnerable inmates, as well as the broader societal and institutional failures that contributed to the ongoing scandal.

20:06

🏛️ The Battle for Justice: Whistleblowers and Survivors Unite 🏛️

The script introduces the collaboration between Alicia, the whistleblower, and Tiffany, a survivor of abuse, as they join forces to seek justice and expose the failings of state agencies in Tasmania. It outlines their impact on the public discourse, leading to a commission of inquiry into institutional abuse and the eventual announcement of the closure of the Ashley center. The paragraph also touches on the ongoing legal battle, with a class action lawsuit being led by lawyer Angela Sadrinus on behalf of the victims.

25:08

🏠 Aftermath of Speaking Out: Personal Consequences for Whistleblowers 🏠

The final paragraph discusses the personal impact on Alicia and Tiffany for their bravery in speaking out against the abuses at Ashley Youth Detention Centre. It describes the upheaval in their lives and the feeling of insecurity that has led them to not feel safe enough to return to Tasmania. The script concludes with a call to action for reforms and the acknowledgment of the ongoing struggle for justice, as well as a prompt for viewers to follow the story on the 60 Minutes Australia channel.

Keywords

💡Whistleblower

A whistleblower is an individual who exposes unethical or illegal activities occurring in an organization. In the context of the video, Alicia is a whistleblower who reveals the abuse and mistreatment of children at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Her actions are crucial to bringing the dark practices within the institution to light, highlighting the importance of individuals who are willing to risk their safety and careers to expose wrongdoing.

💡Youth Detention Centre

A youth detention centre is a facility designed to house and rehabilitate young offenders. The Ashley Youth Detention Centre, as depicted in the video, is portrayed as a place where children are subjected to abuse and harm, contradicting the intended purpose of such institutions. The term is central to the video's narrative, as it is the setting where the abuses are taking place.

💡Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse refers to any unwanted sexual act or conduct forced upon a person without their consent. The video script describes instances of sexual abuse within the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, where young inmates were left unsupervised and vulnerable to assault by other inmates. This keyword is pivotal to understanding the severity of the abuses occurring and the psychological and physical trauma inflicted upon the victims.

💡Cover-up

A cover-up is an attempt to hide the truth about a wrongdoing, often to protect the reputation of an individual or organization. In the video, there are references to a cover-up of the abuses at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, suggesting that powerful people and institutions have been complicit in concealing the mistreatment of children to avoid responsibility and public scrutiny.

💡Inhumane Treatment

Inhumane treatment describes actions or conditions that are cruel, degrading, or undignified, often violating basic human rights. The video script includes descriptions of the conditions at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, where children are subjected to physical and psychological abuse, indicating a systemic failure to provide humane care and protection.

💡Vulnerable Children

Vulnerable children are those who, due to various factors such as age, disability, or social circumstances, are at an increased risk of harm or neglect. The video emphasizes the vulnerability of the young inmates at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, many of whom come from difficult backgrounds and are further victimized by the abusive environment within the facility.

💡Institutional Abuse

Institutional abuse refers to the mistreatment or abuse that occurs within an organization or institution, often due to systemic failures or a culture of abuse. The video's focus on the Ashley Youth Detention Centre highlights a pattern of institutional abuse, where the organization's structure and practices contribute to and perpetuate the harm of the inmates.

💡Cabal

A cabal is a secret group of conspirators working together to achieve a common goal, often in a deceitful or unscrupulous manner. In the video, the term 'cabal of staff' is used to describe a group within the Ashley Youth Detention Centre who are complicit in the abuse and mistreatment of children, suggesting a coordinated effort to maintain a harmful status quo.

💡Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation refers to the process of helping individuals, particularly offenders, reintegrate into society in a constructive and law-abiding manner. The video script mentions Alicia's initial hope to help kids rehabilitate at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, contrasting with the reality of the facility's failure to provide a safe and supportive environment for the young inmates.

💡Commission of Inquiry

A commission of inquiry is a formal investigation, often established by a government, to examine and report on a specific issue or event. In the video, the mention of a commission of inquiry into institutional abuse signifies an official response to the revelations of abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, aiming to uncover the truth and implement necessary reforms.

Highlights

Alicia, a whistleblower, exposes the dark history of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania, where children were harmed and abused.

The Ashley Youth Detention Centre is described as a 'prison of shame' with a horrific and dark history.

Alicia left the prison on stress leave and decided to blow the whistle to protect children, despite the risks.

Vulnerable children were mentally tortured and sexually abused, with their basic rights ignored by staff.

Alicia discovered a young female inmate was sexually assaulted by male inmates after being left unattended by staff.

Tasmanian law prevents identifying victims, but hundreds of alleged victims have been reported over many decades.

Rachel, a victim, recounts her experience of sexual assault by an unqualified male staff member under the guise of medical examination.

Andrea, another victim, describes routine abuse by a male staff member who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

Alicia found that covering up mistreatment was an expected part of the job at Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

A leaked report from a psychologist warned senior management about the risk of serious harm to vulnerable inmates.

Alicia witnessed CCTV footage of the rape of young inmates, which was not reported to the police.

The prison was on notice about the risk of rape of young inmates since 2007, but nothing was done to prevent it.

James Griffin, a suspected serial child sex offender, was employed at Ashley despite being on authorities' radar for years.

Tiffany Skeggs' story of abuse by Griffin highlights the failings of state agencies to stop child abuse in Tasmania.

Griffin's employment at the youth jail raises questions about the state's handling of known abusers.

A class action lawsuit is being led by senior lawyer Angela Sadrinus on behalf of dozens of victims abused at Ashley.

Alicia and Tiffany join forces to fight for justice and expose the failings of state agencies in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Premier announced a commission of inquiry into institutional abuse following the scandal.

Alicia and Tiffany's advocacy has led to the announcement that the Ashley Youth Detention Centre will close in three years.

Despite the scandal, there are concerns that predators may still be present within the system in Tasmania.

Transcripts

what you're about to see is a blight on

this country a shameful episode in our

recent history that powerful people have

either ignored or worse tried to cover

up and it's likely would have remained a

dark secret but for the courage of brave

whistleblowers

one of them is alicia and she's made the

tough and dangerous decision to speak up

and shine a light on this disgrace

she's done it because she knows no

matter the cost or consequence there is

nothing more important

than protecting children

it might be in a beautiful part of the

world the rich farming land outside de

lorraine in northern tasmania but

there's nothing nice about the ashley

youth detention centre

it's a prison of shame

here good didn't stand a chance against

evil

people have been harmed

children have been harmed out at ashley

for a hundred years its history is

horrific and dark and and scary

it's been 18 months since alicia left

the prison on stress leave

despite still serving as a public

official she's decided to blow the

whistle on what's really happening

[Music]

inside that's it

and this is the first time you've been

back since you've left

what are you feeling

um

exactly the same as i felt every day

when i left work i guess

just that it's

completely inhumane and wrong that

there's children in that facility

[Music]

i've said to them that i believe them

and i've said to them that i'll do

everything that i can

to help and um

i will

if it wasn't for whistleblowers like

alicia it's unlikely we'd know what

really went on here how vulnerable

children were mentally tortured and

sexually abused their basic rights

ignored by a cabal of staff

it's scary to speak out against people

when you know what they're capable of

i'm absolutely

terrified but you're going to come and

stand up and tell the truth

in october 2019 alicia took a job at

ashley hoping to help kids rehabilitate

rather than re-offend

a lot of them have come from really

difficult homes and backgrounds

they're ticking every box for

vulnerabilities

but within a few weeks of the job she

knew something was amiss

she began to suspect members of staff at

agendas that didn't involve helping the

young inmates

at first it was the way they spoke that

concerned her

what did you hear them say

they've been called little

little shits

useless pieces of [ __ ]

i was present when one of the managers

of the center told

a child that

if he didn't do xyz he was going to turn

him into an owl and i said

what does that mean

and he said i'm going to cave his face

in sorry he said he's going to turn him

into an owl correct which meant that he

was going to cave his face in yes

hearing the way that they were spoken

about was very distressing for me and

that was something that set off huge

alarm bells

it was a much bigger job than i

was prepared for

but it wasn't just verbal abuse alicia

also quickly discovered a young female

inmate had been left alone by staff

and sexually assaulted by male inmates

she was horrifically harmed

what happened to her

they were unattended for so long

that the boys were able to

organize

someone to be

a watch or a guard at the door

and

the other boys took turns

sexually abusing her

was that reported to senior staff at the

center

yes it was were police called in no they

went

the victim was one of many that alicia

found out about

under tasmanian law we can't identify

the children and teenagers who've been

locked up here but we can say that there

are hundreds of alleged victims over

many decades

another victim who we'll call rachel was

reminded to ashley in 2012.

her story is as horrific as it is common

at the youth prison

i was 14 and the first time i went in

there was for stealing a bag of doritos

sling a bag of chips yeah you sent to

jail yep three months

do you remember your first day inside

yeah i remember

i was the first girl that had been in

there for about a year so i remember

there was a lot of um

comments um

the boys are very excited to see me

a few weeks into her imprisonment she

complained of being sick but instead of

the staff calling a doctor or a nurse

she was examined by an unqualified male

staff member

rachel knew instantly that this wasn't

right

he got me just to lie on the couch and

basically proceeded to feel around areas

that i now know were nowhere near my

appendix um and then didn't take me to

the nurse afterwards

um

yeah

it was a sexual assault yeah it was um

yeah and i

yeah i felt violated and it was really

uncomfortable and yeah it wasn't what i

asked for i needed medical assistance

did you feel like you could say anything

while this man was

no

why not no um

because in that moment like i don't know

being a child and having

an adult tell you to do something like i

don't know i just didn't feel like i was

in a position where i could kind of talk

up or ask for help or anything

rachel told a female youth worker about

the assault who helped her complain to

the ombudsman but she says the only

punishment the male staff member

received was two weeks paid leave he

sexually assaulted you and got two weeks

paid leave yeah and then came back yeah

and kept working with you yep

rachel's story isn't unusual

there was never a time he was around me

where he didn't touch me inappropriately

this former detainee we'll call andrea

says abuse was routine

she recalls one male staff member who

couldn't keep his hands to himself

he would

grab my bum

and he would do night shift and i'd be

in a shower he would unlock my window in

my bathroom

and stare at you in the shower

did you have the ability to say

stop or yeah i would and would he stop

no he'd just laugh

many years have passed now

why do you think this guy's conduct

towards you has stayed with you for so

long

um

i feel

my main problem was management's

handling of it

like obviously it was gross and horrible

what happened to us and

in there but the way management handled

it and hid everything

we now know that teens and children were

subjected to abuse for decades at the

ashley youth detention center and that

some staff were well aware of it

in fact when alicia went to work there

she discovered that covering up

mistreatment was an expected part of the

job

what did staff tell you about

what happens to staff who

rocked the boat or speak out about

allegations

straight away

and i was shocked by the the openness

and the brazenness about these comments

it was like

what happens in ashley stays in ashley

basically you've gotta

fit in or [ __ ] off

but i was also told as time went on that

was that um

in regards to myself from a colleague

that

snitches get stitches

snitches get stitches

which was a warning to you if you spoke

the bitter reprisals

yeah that i would be physically harmed

when you tried to raise allegations

internally of

kids being sexually assaulted

what was the general response from

senior management i can't say that there

was a single incident that i reported

that was responded to in a remotely

appropriate way for the children

[Music]

in the end alicia decided she had no

other choice but to become a

whistleblower you're describing

the alleged rape of young inmates

it's not alleged if the footage exists

we've seen the footage yes

it's a place that was meant to help

steer teens and kids away from trouble

towards the straight and narrow

but ashley youth jail in tasmania's

north instead put them at greater risk

thanks to brave whistleblowers like

alicia it's now known as a place where

one of australia's worst child abuse

scandals occurred

many decades of abuse and it's time to

let the light in

yeah i i absolutely

that's a big big job but it

needs to happen

[Music]

in october 2019 alicia started working

at ashley prison

but a few weeks into the job she became

concerned about vulnerable young inmates

being left alone with older prisoners

known to be predators

alicia says she reviewed shocking cctv

showing rape

in this case those two boys did end up

in this unit and

ended up alone with two older offenders

who

[Music]

forced them to remove

their

pants

and they

proceeded to penetrate them with a

bottle

and

on the

footage of this incident

once it was over the the two boys

kind of got up and

what really broke my heart was that um

they pulled up their trap pants you know

they actually issued track pants as high

as they could and they pulled the thing

and they did all these like double knots

as tight as they could

and ran out of the room

you watched that on the cctv i've read

the reports and i've yeah

so

those children

every time that i've seen them since

then they're

tied up tight

as possible

they were never offered any help

even a debrief any any support

alicia isn't the only insider raising

concerns we've obtained a leaked report

written by a psychologist working at

ashley in october 2019 she warned senior

management that vulnerable inmates were

at risk of serious harm because they

were getting left alone with possible

sex offenders still nothing changed

how many credible allegations of sexual

assault serious sexual assault involving

young

children teen inmates did you come to

learn of in your six seven months at

ashley

i don't know

a lot more than ten

yes

what are we talking about what sort of

things

serious serious beatings that could have

easily killed

people

psychological

abuse torture name calling

isolation

breaches of

every single right

that a child has

of the credible sexual assault

allegations you discovered how many were

reported to the police

the sexual assault allegations

none

it gets even worse

before alicia joined ashley the prison

was already on notice that vulnerable

young inmates were at clear risk of

being raped in 2007 a 14 year old will

call andrew was on his second night of

remand he was placed in a cell with an

older bigger inmate who was locked up

for a previous sexual assault

andrew didn't stand a chance because

unbelievably he was left without any

staff watching over him

how many staff should have been there

two staff members and both disappeared

both are gone

i was punched to the side of the jaw and

then i was i was raped

and

the feeling to know that

like you're left there and there's no

help um

it's guarding it's gut-wrenching to know

that

it happened and they allowed it to

happen and there was no help there was

no justice there was there was nothing i

was left

violated and bashed they didn't take me

to see the nurse until the next day

and still to this day i remember exactly

how it happened and i still see it in my

in my brain because

there was no help there was no

cancelling after it happened

you were 14 years old at the time that's

correct

this shocking failure was part of a long

history in tasmania of covering up abuse

and silencing victims

but it's the case of this man james

griffin that highlights the failings of

state agencies to stop child abuse in

tasmania

so they sent a suspected abuser

to a place with even more vulnerable

children a known abuser

many monsters have worked behind the

walls of the ashley youth detention

centre one of them was this man james

griffin

griffin began working at ashley in 2017

but it's how he got the job that's

outrageous that's because for years

before it was suspected he was a serial

child sex offender

i was 11

he was

59

and the grooming started at age 11 at

age 11.

in 2008 tiffany skeggs met child nurse

and tasmanian netball volunteer james

griffin

it wasn't long before he started abusing

her

he had absolute control over me

the

exploitation was

as far as you can go

[Music]

now 24 tiffany says her innocence was

stolen

my life revolved around him

i had to be at his beck and call

constantly

and

the

more physically abusive part of that was

that

he

would rape me at least two to three

times a week

and i had to be available for that

and how long did that ordeal last

until i was 19.

what makes tiffany's story even worse is

that griffin was on the radar of

authorities for years

but instead of stopping him he was left

to abuse her and other vulnerable

children including at the launceston

general hospital where he worked at the

time

multiple complaints suggesting griffin

was a pedophile or lodged with police

and public sector agencies in tasmania

i ended up suffering a new decade

because they refused or disregarded

and just plainly didn't act on the

information they had

at the time

i was expected to put up with it by

everyone not just him

tasmanian police the launceston general

hospital and netball tasmania all failed

to act properly on tip-offs about

griffin

federal authorities were also tipped off

in 2015

that griffin was linked to child

exploitation material and was traveling

overseas with the minor

tiffany says border force officials

approached them here at melbourne

airport and took possession of both

their mobile phones

what was on yours and his foams

extremely

explosive and pornographic material of

myself for certain

um on my device and his device i know

for a fact that there

was a particular set of images and

videos

that

in were

he and i in his bedroom in his bed

and the video

the video

is

a recording of him

penetrating me and sexually assaulting

me

and

border force examining your phone

it would have it should have been clear

to them

that this was

images of child exploitation

absolutely my face was in some of those

photos and certainly

in the video and how old were you in

those photos in video

i was 15 in those particular ones how

old was he

he would have been around 64.

borderforce had an opportunity to

conduct a forensic phone search but

records show only a manual search of

griffin's phone was performed

tiffany believes they let a pedophile go

free

what did that mean for you

it meant that i still had years of abuse

to come

that i would never

be free of him

i would never have another opportunity

like that for

any authority in this state or this

country to help me

i was on my own

i had defend

for myself and

continued

to be raped by him

as

did others

griffin was free to roam and search for

other victims and instead of keeping him

away from vulnerable children in 2017 he

was transferred to tasmania's youth jail

ashley

[Music]

so they sent a suspected abuser

to a place with even more vulnerable

children a known abuser

no one knows if griffin abused any

children or teen inmates at ashley youth

jail

in 2019

tiffany bravely reported him to police

he was charged but killed himself before

he faced justice

when he took his life

did you feel cheated

yes

why

i

from the get-go from my very first

disclosure had

followed the process

the proper legal process and done

absolutely everything right

and in line with that process to ensure

we could get a sound conviction

and that he would be appropriately

punished for his crimes

and i never got that

and not a single one of his other

victims ever got that

and we never will

we

don't have a chance to get justice

because the system yet again

failed

griffin may have wanted the scandal of

his abuse to die with him

but tiffany wanted justice

last year she joined forces with ashley

whistleblower alicia who was also trying

to expose the failings of state agencies

to stop child abuse in tasmania

together they would make radical change

alicia was

the first person in the world

that

made me feel like i wasn't an alien

and

if i hadn't met alicia i wouldn't be

alive today

[Music]

tiffany and alicia have become the

public face for the battle against child

abuse in tasmania

in march last year after the scandal

about griffin and the ashley jail began

to leak then premier peter guttmann

called a commission of inquiry into

institutional abuse

months later he sat down with alicia did

you tell him that kids were being

assaulted raped bashed abused in ashley

yes and that he had a responsibility

to protect those kids he had a

responsibility to act

the following day at 12 p.m

he held a press conference to announce

that in three years

the center would be closed

it was a bittersweet victory for alicia

it's three more years that kids are

being put at risk inside ashley

she's hopeful the commission of inquiry

will eventually expose the abuse and

cover-ups

senior lawyer angela sadrinus is leading

a class action to sue the state of

tasmania on behalf of dozens of victims

who say they were abused inside ashley

detention centre we've got about 150

claimants who allege abuse at ashley and

really it just keeps growing we see more

and more people coming forward how can

more than 150 people allegedly be

seriously abused

and the state and ashley get away with

it

well they've gotten away with it up till

now

it's actually hard to fathom because

any human being the thought of a child

being abused is

is just so difficult to to deal with do

you think there's still predators

pedophiles in the system in tasmania

today absolutely

well apart from anything else we're

still getting quite contemporaneous

complaints

how does it happen um

[Music]

really across or all sections of the

system if you want to call it that

there are still gaps and there are still

failures

across the state 32 officials have been

stood down over sex abuse allegations

but until there are major reforms to

better protect children alicia and

tiffany don't feel safe enough to return

to live in tasmania

for now they find comfort in each

other's company and the shared

experiences of other victims and

whistleblowers

what has been the impact on you and your

family for speaking up

for the

young inmates at ashley

it's completely

upended and destroyed our lives

once i removed myself from the site they

said oh well it's not safe for you to go

back

and i thought well you've you've got

exactly what you wanted you know

i won't be reporting and causing trouble

for you any longer

but i i didn't stop

i kept escalating my reports you haven't

stopped no i can't

hello i'm liz hayes thanks for watching

60 minutes australia

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