The tragic death at Ashley Youth Detention Centre yesterday raises more concerns about systemic failures in the child protection and youth justice system.
The Minister must do everything she can to make sure medical care is provided whenever it is requested or needed by inmates and youth on remand at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
While we are confident that the coronial inquest will thoroughly investigate this tragic death, the incident raises a number of issues.
While no one doubts that Lin Thorp has the best intentions of children at heart it is quite clear that she has far too much on her ministerial plate to be able to deal with the significant issues within her portfolio.
In fact, around 45 per cent of all state public servants work for Minister Thorp, and she is responsible for administering nearly 40 per cent of Tasmania's $4.3 billion budget.
Our concern is if she starts dedicating more time to child protection and youth justice, as she should, other areas of her portfolio like education and police may suffer as a result. She has far too many fingers in the dam wall and important issues are not being addressed.
