Troubled Youth Detention Centre to Become Adult Prison Farm in Tasmania

The Tasmanian government intends to transform the Ashley Youth Detention Centre into a minimum-security adult prison and an agriculture-based rehabilitation facility. The facility, located in Deloraine, is slated for closure in 2028, with its future use now clarified after extensive planning and community engagement.

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Repurposing the existing facility presents a unique opportunity for the Tasmania Prison Service to accommodate minimum-security prisoners in a setting focused on rehabilitation and education.

This initiative revives the concept of a prison farm in Tasmania, similar to the former Hayes Prison Farm in the state's south, which closed in 2012. The Deloraine site will accommodate approximately 40 minimum-security prisoners. The surrounding farmland will be utilized for vocational training in agriculture, providing a pathway for offender reintegration into the community.

Minister for Justice, Corrections and Rehabilitation Guy Barnett highlighted the opportunity to repurpose the existing facility. He stated that the low-security farm prison would support rural training and employment initiatives, serving as a vital step for offender rehabilitation. Barnett emphasized that this approach ensures the continued value of the state's investment in correctional infrastructure while enhancing the broader corrections system.

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Establishing a low-security farm prison will support rural training and employment initiatives serving as an important pathway for offender reintegration.

The plan to convert Ashley follows the government's 2021 decision to close the troubled youth detention centre. The closure date has been repeatedly extended, but the site's eventual repurposing aims to provide a practical and responsible solution for correctional services in the state.

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This is a practical and responsible pathway to ensuring the significant investment already made continues to deliver value for Tasmanians, while strengthening our corrections system more broadly.