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About the Office of the Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector
How are the Tasmanian NPM and the Custodial Inspector connected?
The Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector share offices and resources. While each body has its own legal framework, they both share the same goal of preventing torture and ill-treatment in Tasmania. Staff from both offices work together to strengthen human rights protections for people deprived of their liberty.
The current Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector is Dr Grant Davies. He is also the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner.
Why are the Tasmanian NPM and the Custodial Inspector connected?
The Custodial Inspector was already established when Australia ratified OPCAT in 2017 and Tasmania became obliged to establish an NPM framework by November 2022. During the NPM implementation phase it was identified that the Custodial Inspector was best placed to continue inspecting prisons and youth detention facilities in connection with the Tasmanian NPM’s work.
Read the Implementation Reports.
How do the Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector divide their work?
The Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector have a shared purpose to protect people deprived of their liberty from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Staff work collaboratively, but each office focuses on specific places and people:
- The Office of the Custodial Inspector oversees Tasmania’s prisons and youth detention facilities, and will begin leading oversight of police and court custody. This means that anybody who interacts with the criminal justice system in Tasmania can contact and engage with the Custodial Inspector.
- The Tasmanian NPM delegates its custodial-related functions to the Custodial Inspector, allowing it to focus on non-custodial settings. This includes Tasmania’s mental health facilities and hospitals, aged care residences, disability support services, and out of home care.
In addition, the Tasmanian NPM provides advice to Government on policy and law reform, leads community and stakeholder engagement, and coordinates Tasmanian NPM reporting and engagement with the Commonwealth NPM.
About the Tasmanian NPM
What does an NPM do?
The NPM’s role is to prevent the mistreatment of people deprived of their liberty. It does this by inspecting the conditions and treatment of people in places where they are deprived of their liberty. It also cooperates and engages with government, authorities and the wider community.
Why do we have an NPM in Tasmania?
Australia has been a party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) since 1989. It ratified Optional Protocol to the Convention (OPCAT) in 2017.
CAT and OPCAT are international agreements that aim to protect people from torture and other ill-treatment.
As a state party to OPCAT and the CAT, Australia is required to establish an NPM framework to undertake preventive monitoring in places where people are deprived of their liberty. The Australian NPM framework mirrors our federal system of government – NPMs are to be established by the Commonwealth and by each state and territory.
In Tasmania the NPM was established by the Tasmanian Parliament through a new law: the OPCAT Implementation Act 2021 (Tas). This law sets out the NPM’s powers, functions, and duties.
What is OPCAT?
OPCAT is the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
It is an international agreement designed to help states meet their international obligations to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
OPCAT requires that member states set up a National Preventive Mechanism, which is an independent body that will regularly visit and examine the conditions and treatment of people deprived of their liberty. This includes prisons, detention centres and other places where people are not allowed to leave at their own will.
It also requires that states allow visits to these by the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.
What places does the Tasmanian NPM visit?
The Tasmanian NPM makes visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty. These are places where persons are not allowed to leave at their own will, including: prisons, police stations, remand centres, youth detention centres, military detention centres, immigration detention centres, mental health facilities, hospitals, and community health and social care homes—particularly if restrictive practices are used. It also includes any related transport, such as in a police car.
Deprivation of liberty can be physical or environmental, such as a person being locked in a building. It can also be psychological, such as a person being told that they are not allowed to leave a building, or that something bad will happen if they do.
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture has published detailed guidance about the places NPMs may visit. This guidance is available to view and download here (UN Document CAT/OP/GC/1).
What does the Tasmanian NPM examine?
The Tasmanian NPM examines the conditions and treatment of people deprived of their liberty. It does this to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
The Tasmanian NPM looks at a place’s physical conditions and service delivery and considers whether they meet Australia’s international human rights obligations and related international standards.
The Tasmanian NPM has published documents setting out the expectations it has for the places it visits.
More information about the Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector’s expectations is available on the Our Expectations webpage.
Does the Tasmanian NPM investigate incidents or complaints?
No. The Tasmanian NPM has a preventive function, which means that the office does not respond to past incidents or complaints. Rather, it works proactively to ensure they don’t happen in the first place. We give advice and recommendations to the government and authorities so that changes can be made to prevent torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty.
Can the Tasmanian NPM help me with my complaint?
No. but we can help you find the right place to make a complaint if you don’t know. If you have an individual complaint, you can contact the Tasmanian Ombudsman.
Where can I find more information?
You can read further information about the Tasmanian NPM on the About the Tasmanian NPM webpage.
We have also compiled a list of useful external links to information related to our work.
How do I contact the Tasmanian NPM?
You can email us at enquiries@npm.tas.gov.au.
Further contact details are available on our Contact page.
Can I read the Tasmanian NPM’s reports and recommendations?
Yes!
About the Custodial Inspector
Who is the Custodial Inspector?
The current Custodial Inspector is Dr Grant Davies. He was appointed in July 2025. Dr Davies is also the Tasmanian NPM, Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner.
What does the Custodial Inspector do?
The Custodial Inspector oversees prisons and youth detention centres in Tasmania. Their role is to ensure that people in custody are safe and treated well.
What places does the Custodial Inspector visit?
The Custodial Inspector visits prisons run by the Tasmania Prison Service, and the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) which is run by the Department for Education, Children and Young People.
When does the Custodial Inspector conduct visits?
The Custodial Inspector may visit Tasmanian prisons or AYDC at any time. The Office uses ‘expectations’ to guide visits. These set out the expected standards for humane, effective and accountable detention.
Where do I find more information?
You can read further information about the Custodial Inspector on the About page.
Can the Custodial Inspector investigate an individual complaint?
No, but the Office can help you find the right place to make a complaint if you don’t know.
If you have an individual complaint about a Tasmanian prison or Ashley Youth Detention Centre, you can contact the Tasmanian Ombudsman.
How do I give feedback or make a complaint about the Custodial Inspector?
If you are concerned about the conduct of the Custodial Inspector, staff, or wish to give feedback you should follow the process outlined on our Contact page.
Expectations
What are ‘expectations’?
Expectations are the guidelines used by the Tasmanian NPM and Custodial Inspector when examining the conditions and treatment of people deprived of their liberty in Tasmania.
Who wrote the expectations?
The expectations were created during the Tasmanian NPM consultation and implementation project in 2023 and 2024. The Tasmanian NPM consulted with experts, organisations, conducted in-person visits to custodial centres and other facilities, and reviewed relevant laws, international human rights instruments and existing inspection standards. It also sought public feedback on the draft documents and made revisions in response.
Read the implementation reports.
How are expectations used?
Expectations are used by the Tasmanian NPM and the Custodial Inspector to support their examinations of the different settings. They also help people understand some of the matters that are considered by the Tasmanian NPM and the Custodial Inspector when they undertake inspections, write reports and make recommendations.
Can I read the expectations?
Yes, the expectations documents are available for everyone to read.
Read our expectations documents.
Community Engagement
How does the Tasmanian NPM work with the community?
The Tasmanian NPM has established a Civil Society Advisory Council, who provides us with advice and feedback. It is made up of seven members who are selected because of their expertise or experience in one or more areas relevant to our work.
What does ‘civil society’ mean?
Civil society is a broad term for the groups and organisations that work to represent and advocate for certain interests of the broader community. These include unions, non-governmental organisations and charities.
Members of the Civil Society Advisory Council are appointed in an individual capacity, not as representatives of an organization.
What does the Civil Society Advisory Council do?
The Advisory Council provides the Tasmanian NPM with perspectives on emerging issues, gives feedback on our performance, and assists with future planning.
The Tasmanian NPM publishes a communiqué after each meeting of the Advisory Council.
Read our Advisory Council communiqués.
How are the Advisory Council members selected?
Members are selected through a public call for expressions of interest. The next call will be advertised widely, and information about how to apply will be available on our Community Engagement page.