Don Dale Kids Were Charged "Rent" By the Infamous Detention Centre

It has emerged that guards at the infamous Don Dale Youth Detention Centre charged underage prisoners "rent" on a daily basis. Speaking at the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller explained youth in detention could earn up to $4.50 per day in the centre; however, $1.50 of this would go to a daily rent fee.

"They charged you rent to stay in detention?" Senior Counsel Assisting Peter Callaghan SC asked with surprise. "That's correct," Voller responded.

Monday's appearance at the Royal Commission was Voller's first public appearance since his story was revealed by Four Corners earlier this year . Images of a then 17-year-old Voller hooded and tied to a chair with restraints around his ankles, wrists, shoulders, and neck sparked outrage—particularly when it was revealed he was left there, alone, for two hours.

Voller's abuse in detention dates back to when he was 13 years old. A "lengthy" 2012 investigation found he was subject to "inappropriate and excessive force," although none of the guards involved were ever charged. The findings of this investigation were also tabled in NT Parliament but were never made public. Over four years, Voller was repeatedly intimidated, beaten, tear gassed, and stripped by guards.

"How old were you when you were first strip searched?" Counsel Callaghan asked Voller on Monday. "Late 11, or early 12," Voller replied, explaining that he was stripped as an underage detainee on a regular basis—anytime he was transferred or taken to court, after any visits from family. Two guards would tell him to strip all of his clothes off, one would "put a finger in your mouth and run it around your gums" and finally he'd be told to "squat and cough."

Peter Callaghan SC: Did you understand what was going on?
Dylan Voller: No.
Peter Callaghan SC: Did anyone explain to you why this was happening?
Dylan Voller: No.

Former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller

Voller's testimony painted a picture of how vindictive the relationship between underage detainees and guards could be. Cells within the Behavioural Management Unit at Don Dale didn't have drinking water, so "you'd press a button and wait, sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes hours," Voller said.

He recounted one event to the Royal Commission, where an officer brought water to BMU and "because he didn't really like me he said, 'Do you want water Voller?'" The officer dumped Voller's water onto the ground as he walked out of the unit. Last week, it was unclear whether Voller would appear in front of the Royal Commission after alleged threats from guards at Darwin Prison, where he's now an adult prisoner.

"He's starting to get to the point where maybe he doesn't want to give evidence, because he feels that he's not going to be safe to give evidence," his mother, Joanne Voller, told the ABC. "He might go on a hunger strike as of Monday over the concerns of his safety." Northern Territory solicitor-general Sonia Brownhill also made a last minute attempt to suppress Voller's testimony, which is being publicly broadcast. She expressed concerns to the court that Voller may name current or former Don Dale employees in his testimony. The Commission denied this application, and Voller's testimony continues today.

VICE has contacted the Northern Territory government for comment.