Badge of Betrayal

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of alleged child sexual abuse and institutional violence. Some content may be distressing. Listener discretion is advised. Support resources are listed in the show notes.
In this episode of Badge of Betrayal, we return to Alysha, the whistleblower who helped expose abuse at Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
For the first time, we also hear from a former detainee, now an adult, who speaks anonymously about his experiences inside the centre. His voice has been altered and identifying details removed.
This conversation was approached with care, expert guidance, and a clear public-interest purpose. It explores power, accountability, and the lasting impact of institutional failure while centring the courage it takes to speak when silence once felt safer.
If this episode is triggering, please pause and seek support.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au

If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at [email protected]
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven referrals. Five known to police before 2024. Two still active. As insiders speak anonymously and integrity reforms are proposed, the question remains: does Tasmania need a Commission of Inquiry to uncover what still hasn’t been told?
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at [email protected]
If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available:
You can have your say on the Integrity Commission Amended Bill Proposal here
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we examine how Paul Reynolds’ police honours funeral was approved.
Through Right to Information documents, we look at how the decision was made, who was involved, and what was known at the time. The episode also returns to the final sitting day in Parliament, where Dr Rosalie Woodruff raised further questions about unresolved issues surrounding Reynolds and the institutional response to his conduct before and after his death.
Using official records and parliamentary proceedings, this episode continues our examination of how decisions were made and why key questions remain unanswered.
This episode references extracts from official Right to Information documents and parliamentary proceedings. These materials are presented for context only. No wrongdoing is alleged
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at [email protected]
If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

****A content warning before we begin: this episode contains references to suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. Help is available below *******
In this episode, we uncover the hidden financial secrets of Paul Reynolds, from alleged theft from his own mother to casino withdrawals, gambling debts, and desperate pleas for fast cash just days before his death. As the timeline tightens, disturbing questions emerge about where the money went, who Reynolds was connected to, and what police knew and when.
This chapter takes us through the night of the raid on Reynolds’ home, the procedural failures that followed, and the chilling final hours that ended his life, revealing a system riddled with missed opportunities and unanswered questions.
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at [email protected]
If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we hear from a current serving Tasmanian police officer a man who spent nearly his entire career working alongside Reynolds. Using a voice actor to protect his identity, he describes Reynolds as he knew him: the outgoing, blokey colleague who could charm a room of young men, the officer who became increasingly absent as he climbed the ranks, and the man whose behaviour now looks disturbingly like grooming hiding in plain sight.
He also walks us into the world of Ashley Youth Detention Centre the blind spots, the “cowboy” culture, the friendships between staff and Reynolds, and why he believes it is almost impossible that Reynolds never accessed the centre or its vulnerable boys.
Alongside testimony from a whistleblower who worked inside Ashley, this chapter exposes the overlap between policing, youth detention, and community institutions that enabled Reynolds to move freely for decades. It raises the questions no one has been able to answer: who knew what, who looked away, and why so many of Reynolds’ behaviors were minimised or ignored.
If you’d like to hear episodes ad-free and early, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
If you have information that you would like to share, email us anonymously at [email protected]
If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, support is available:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 — https://www.lifeline.org.au

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 — https://kidshelpline.com.au

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 — https://www.1800respect.org.au


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.