VALS expands Bail and Remand Court (BaRC) service across weekdays and weekends
VALS has expanded its Bail and Remand Court (BaRC) service to strengthen access to Aboriginal-led legal support for First Nations people at the earliest stage of the criminal legal process. The expansion increases the availability of VALS lawyers and our Client Support Officers (CSOs) across weekdays and weekends, including extended evening coverage. This ensures First […]
Victoria’s carceral colonial project continues with the return to unjust bail laws
Australian governments have been telling Aboriginal people for 237 years that they know “what’s best” for us. Last night the government rammed through the second round of bad bail laws, ignoring the calls of VALS, the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, the Koorie Youth Council and over 100 organisations in the community sector. They did not take […]
Alarming pursuit of denying bail: Allan’s single minded approach will cause high harm
Last week, the Allan Labor Government introduced the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025. The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, The Koorie Youth Council, The Aboriginal Justice Caucus, Federation of Community Legal Centres, Human Rights Law Centre and the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women collectively condemn the Allan Labor Government for their single-minded pursuit of a […]
Truth requires action: Victorian Government must deliver on Yoorrook Justice Commission commitments
Aboriginal Communities across Victoria have been loud and clear in calling for self-determined solutions to address historic and ongoing injustices caused by the state of Victoria. The delivery of the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s ‘Yoorrook for Transformation’ Report to Victorian Parliament this week was a historic moment in acknowledging the Truth-telling journey and paving a path […]
Stop Tranche Two: Another unmitigated disaster waiting to happen
VALS, the Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC), the Koorie Youth Council (KYC), the Federation of Community Legal Centres (FCLC) and the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) are urging the Victorian Government to not proceed with tranche two of the proposed bail amendments being introduced in the final sitting week of July, as announced by Premier Allan […]
Strengthening Practice, Upholding Justice: First Nations-led Cultural Capability Framework Launches
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), alongside Victoria Legal Aid and the Law Institute of Victoria, is proud to announce the launch of a landmark initiative to improve the experiences of First Nations peoples seeking legal advice and representation in Victoria. The First Nations Cultural Capability Framework is a First Nations-led, Australia-first collaborative effort that […]
Locking up children will be Premier Allan’s legacy: that’s nothing to boast about.
Today the Victorian government will introduce “post and boast” laws that will entrench the criminalisation for young people. Under the new laws, they could be sentenced with up to 2 years additional imprisonment for posting on social media about an offence they committed, such as aggravated burglary, armed robbery and carjacking. This is yet another […]
Victoria’s Budget shows that what matters most is fiscal injustice and bad policy
The Victorian Government is celebrating a Budget today that, in their own words, is “Focused On What Matters Most”. It appears what matters most in the justice space to this government is doubling down on repeating mistakes of the past, by continuing to expand investment in police and corrections – rather than committing to long […]
Premier Allan’s complete disregard for human rights shows flawed logic and bad policy prevails
Earlier this year, VALS warned the Allan Labor Government that tightening the bail laws would be a costly and dangerous mistake for Aboriginal people. So, the Victorian Premier’s announcement of ill-informed funding for corrections facilities this morning came as no surprise. The Victorian Government’s announcement of $727m into Victoria’s prisons is an inevitable outcome due […]
Supporting more Aboriginal people in Victoria: Changes to VALS’ eligibility testing
As of 1st May 2025, VALS will increase its means test threshold to $117,194. We will now be able to assist Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people where the primary income earner of their household earns less than $117,194 per annum. VALS is committed to improving access to justice and high quality culturally safe legal […]
Community groups welcome passage of hate speech protections in Victoria
Community legal centres welcome the passage of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill through the Victorian Parliament upper house with amendments to strengthen how it will work in practice. Community legal centres welcome the passage of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill through the Victorian Parliament upper house with […]
The silence of complacency: empty rhetoric will cost lives
Last night’s budget shows where on the priority list Aboriginal peoples are. Prime Minister Albanese is pursuing popular votes for the upcoming election, rather than showing leadership on the issues that affect us, and for the generations to come. It is clear that our people’s vote doesn’t matter, so the federal budget has remained largely […]
Media Statements from Day 1 of Coronial Inquest into the passing of Clinton Austin
Statement attributable to Shaun Austin, brother of Clinton Austin: “My name is Shaun Austin. I am a Gundijtmara and Wiradjuri man. I am Clinton’s twin brother. I’m also here with our family members – too many to name. Clinton was not just my twin brother, but my best friend, my mentor and teacher who taught me […]
Allan Government rams through dangerous and discriminatory bail laws, repeating mistakes of the past
Bail saves lives, but early this morning the Allan Government rammed through dangerous and discriminatory bail laws which will deeply harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and breach human rights. The laws have been condemned by 93 Aboriginal, human rights, community, family violence and legal organisations, and will needlessly lock away more people – […]
Bail Saves Lives: Poccum’s Law is the Way Forward
Today, VALS alongside 92 representatives of ACCOs, community services, family violence and legal sectors stand together to launch our open letter ‘Bail Saves Lives: Poccum’s Law is the Way Forward’. As a collective voice, we strongly condemn the suite of knee-jerk bail law changes that will be introduced to Parliament this week. We know they […]