NEWSLETTERS

2006

January-February I March I April I May-June I July-August

2005

January I February I March I April I May I June I July I August I September-October

2004

January I February I March I April-May I June I July I August-September I October

2003

March I April I May I July I August I October

SUBMISSIONS / PAPERS / LETTERS

2006

VALS submission to the Department of Human Services in response to Review of the Health Act 1958 - sent 30 January 2006

VALS Submission to the Human Rights Consultation Committee in response to 'Rights, Responsibilities and Respect: the Report of the Human Rights Consultation Committee' - sent 1 February 2006

VALS submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission in response to the 'Review of the Bail Act Consultation Paper'(November) - sent 22 February 2006

VALS submission titled 'A Gendered Narrative which Embraces Mainstreaming and Ignores Other Stories: A response to the Review of Indigenous Peoples' Access to Legal Assistance (2005)' - sent 1 March 2006

VALS Media Release titled Academic Says Harsher Sentences Don't Work and Then Argues for Harsher Sentences

The Media Release is in response to Academic Mirko Bagaric’s attack on the Victorian sentencing system (Herald Sun 14th March 2006)

VALS preliminary submission to the City of Melbourne in response to Open Space Strategy - Have your Say (sent 5 May 2006)

VALS letter to Senator Steve Fielding re Senate Inquiry: Stolen Aboriginal Wages - 9 May 2006

VALS submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee in response to query re pre-European Aboriginal Burial Remains - sent 17 May 2006

VALS submission to the Department of Justice in response to the Courts Legislation (Jurisdiction) Act 2006 - sent 22 May 2006

VALS Media Release titled 'Suspending Sentences is part of Pre Election Punitive Sentencing Bidding War' - sent 24 May 2005

VALS submission to the Victorian Government in response to the 'Review of Family Violence Laws Report' - sent 14 June 2006

VALS submission to the Victorian Government in response to the 'Review of Family Violence Laws Report'- An Overview (summary of submission sent on 14 June 2006)

VALS Media Release titled 'Lack of Progress in Reducing Aboriginal Disadvantage: Could it be that Practical Reconciliation is not working? - sent 21 June 2006

The Media Release is in response to a Tony Abbott article titled 'Few Aboriginal Communities Can Govern Themselves (available at http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/06/20/1150701550085.html)

VALS submission to the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision in response to Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators Request for Comment (March 2006) - sent 22 June 2006

ATSILS Media Release titled 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Support Customary Law', dated 29 June 2006

VALS secondary submission to the City of Melbourne in response to Open Space Strategy- Have your say - sent 28 July 2006

2005

SUBMISSIONS

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: response to Victim Related Amendments to the Sentencing Act 1991 - sent 4 February 2005).

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: response to the Amendment of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) to Prohibit Discrimination on the Basis of 'Homelessness' or 'Employment Status' - sent 10 February 2005).

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: response to Working with Children Bill 2005 Discussion Paper (December 2005) - sent 1 March 2005.

* VALS Submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: response to Discrimination in Employment on the Basis of Criminal Record Discussion Paper (December 2005) - sent 3 March 2005

* VALS Submission to the Coordinator of the National Indigenous Consumer Strategy: response to Taking Action, Gaining Trust - National Indigenous Consumer Strategy 2005-2010 - sent 8 March 2005.

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission: response to Review of Family Violence Laws Consultation Paper (2004) - sent March 2005.

* VALS Submission to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations: response to Building on Success - CDEP Discussion Paper (2005) - sent 8 April 2005

* Federation of Community Legal Centres and Victorian Council of Social Service Submission to the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria titled 'Systemic Discrimination against Women in Prison' - sent 27 April 2005.

VALS was involved in producing this submission along with other agencies and individuals. The submission was produced under the heading of the Federation of Community Legal Centres and the Victorian Council of Social Service. For further information ring the following media contacts: Jiselle Hanna (Federation of Community Legal Centres) on 0411 054 859 or Kate Colvin (Victoria Council of Social Service) on 0418 103 292.

* Executive Summary of Systemic Discrimination against Women in Prison (2005)

* Law Week Presentation on the Complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria alleging Discrimination against Women in Prison - presented 16 May 2005

* VALS Submission to Crime Prevention Victoria: response to 'A Good Night For All'- Options for Improving Safety and Amenity in Inner City Entertainment Precincts Discussion Paper (2005) - sent 3 May 2005

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: response to Training Needs Analysis of the Family Violence Court Report (May 2005) - sent May 2005

* VALS Submission to the Sentencing Advisory Council: response to Suspended Sentences Discussion Paper (April 2005) sent 20 June 2005

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice in response to the Family Violence Court Division Magistrates' Court Professional Development Strategy 2005-2007 (sent 14 July 2005)

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee in response to the Coroners Act 1985 Discussion Paper (April 2005) sent 25 July 2005

* VALS Submission to the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in response to the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) bill 2005 Exposure Draft (Sent 25 July 2005)

* VALS Submission to the Office of the Advocate for Children in Care in response to the Development of a Charter of Rights for children and Young People in Care Discussion Paper (May 2005) sent 22 August 2005

* VALS Preliminary Submission sent to the Human Rights Consultation Committee in response to Have Your Say about Human Rights in Victoria - Human Rights Consultation Community Discussion Paper - sent 30 August 2005

* VALS Submission sent to Office for Children (Department of Human Services) in response to Children Bill - sent 9 September 2005

* VALS Submission sent to the Victoria Police Delivery Model Review Team: re - Review of Police Services - sent 14 September 2005

* VALS Submission to the Honourable Phillip Ruddock (Attorney-General) in response to Recommendations contained within the report on the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill 2005 - sent 19 September 2005

* Full Report - In Search of Justice in Family Violence - Exploring Alternative Justice Responses in the Victorian Indigenous Australian Community - produced September 2005 by Nicole Bluett-Boyd

- Summary - In Search of Justice in Family Violence - Exploring Alternative Justices Responses in the Victorian Indigenous Australian Community - produced September 2005 by Nicole Bluett-Boyd

* VALS Submission to the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria in response to 'Systemic Racism as a Factor in the Over- representation of Aboriginal People in the Victorian Criminal Justice System' Report - sent 17 October 2005

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice in response to the Indictable Offences Triable Summarily Discussion Paper - sent 24 October 2005

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission in response to the Police Holding Powers Interim Report - sent 24 November 2005

* VALS Submission to the Sentencing Advisory Council in response to the Suspended Sentences Interim Report - sent 29 November 2005

* VALS Submission to the Victim Support Agency in response to the Victims' Charter Community Consultation Paper - sent 7 December 2005

Charter of Rights Petition to the Human Rights Consultation Committee.

VALS received 184 signatures for the above petition.

2004

SUBMISSIONS

* VALS Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee: Response to Inquiry into 'Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill (Cth) 2003' (2004)

* VALS Submission to Department of Justice: response to Possible Crimes Act 1958 Amendments to allow Fingerscans to be Admitted as Evidence in Court and to Validate Forensic Procedure Orders make under section 464ZF(3) Crimes Act 1958 - sent March 2004

* VALS Submission to Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee: Response to 'Discrimination in the Law' Inquiry (2004)

* VALS Submission to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Implementation Review Team: Response to the Victorian Implementation Review Discussion Paper (2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice in response to: Justice Legislation (Sexual Offences and Bail Bill) sent 26 March 2005

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee: Response to the 'Warrant Powers and Procedures Inquiry' (May 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: Response to the Family Violence Court and Behaviour Change Counselling Program - Draft Legislation (2004)

* VALS Submission to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria: Response to the Constitutional (Recognition of Aboriginal People) Bill Exposure Draft (2004)

- Proforma Letter to Premier Steve Bracks in support of the VALS submission in response to the Constitutional (Recognition of Aboriginal People) Bill Exposure Draft (2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: Response to the Remaking of the Evidence (Recorded Evidence) Regulations 1994 (August 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Response to the Indigenous Television Broadcasting Service Review - Digital Transmission Discussion Paper (September 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee: Response to the Major Crime (Investigations Powers) Bill 2004 (October 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: Response to Proposed References on the Laws of Evidence and the Bail Act 1977 - sent 29 October 2004

*VALS Submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee: Response to the Warrant Powers and Procedures Discussion Paper - July 2004 (October 2004)

- VALS Summary of Response to the Warrant Powers and Procedures Discussion Paper - July 2004 (October 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Justice: Response to the Uniform Spent Convictions / A Proposed Model Discussion Paper - August 2004 (October 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Human Services: Response to 'Protecting Children: Ten Priorities for Children's Wellbeing and Safety in Victoria' (October 2004)

*VALS Submission to the Department of Justice in response to: Proposed References on the Laws of Evidence and the Bail Act 1977 (sent 29 October 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee: Response to Inquiry into Warrant Powers and Procedures (November 2004)

* VALS Submission to the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee: Response to Inquiry into Warrant Powers and Procedures (December 2004)

Exposure Draft of Request for Tender for the Purchase of Legal Services for Indigenous Australians: http://www.atsis.gov.au/LegalTender/default.asp

* VALS & Arnold Bloch Leibler Joint Submission - Response to Exposure Draft of a Request of Tender for the purchase of Legal Services for Indigenous Australians (2004)

* ALAF Submission - Response to 'Exposure Draft of a Request for Tender for the Purchase of Legal Services for Indigenous Australians'(2004)

* NAILSS Submission - Response to the 'Exposure Draft of a Request for Tender for the Purchase of Legal Services for Indigenous Australians'(2004)

* VALS Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice (2004)

* VALS and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Secretariat Joint Submission to the Joint Committee of Public Account and Audit - Response to 'Indigenous Law and Justice Inquiry'(2004)

* VALS Submission to Attorney-General's Department: Response to Indigenous Justice Discussion Paper (2004)

Troy Austin (re: Abolition of ATSIC ) Media Release 22 April 2004

PAPERS PRESENTED

* VALS Paper presented at the 'Law Institute of Victoria Biennial Criminal Law Conference': Indigenous Law and Justice: New Challenges (12 September 2004)

* VALS Paper presented at the 'Home Truths Conference, Stop Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence - A National Challenge': Intervention in Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Experienced by Indigenous Australians (16 September 2004)

* VALS Paper presented at the 'Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Aboriginal Child Abuse Conference (Families are Forever - Build Them Strong!)': Child Protection Legislation Changes (8 October 2004)

ARCHIVE

Tendering Out Legal Services For Indigenous Australians

In April 2005 it was announced that VALS was successful in its application to continue to provide legal services for Indigenous Australians. On 1 July 2005 VALS commenced operating under a three year contract which ceases in 2008.

Below is information that VALS produced in response to the proposal to tender out legal services for Indigenous Australians

* VALS Tendering out Legal Services for Indigenous Australians Kit (2004)

* A Burning Issue for the Clients of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service: Tendering of Legal services for Indigenous Australians (2004)

* VALS Letter to Indigenous Organisations - Re: Tender I VALS Letter to Federal Politicians - Re: Tender

* Proforma Letter to Politicians challenging the Tendering of Legal Services for Indigenous Australians

2003

SUBMISSIONS

* VALS Submission to the Department of Family and Community Services: Response to Emergency Relief Program Discussion Paper (2003)

* VALS Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee: Response to 'Australian Human Rights Commission Bill (Cth) 2003' (2003)

* VALS Submission to Parliamentary Inquiry into Joint Residence: Response to 'Family Law Amendment (Joint Residency Bill) 2003'(2003)

* VALS Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee: Response to Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice (2003)

* VALS Submission to Victorian Law Reform Commission: Response to Inquiry into Defences to Homicide (2003)

* VALS Report titled 'Cautioning of Indigenous Juvenile Offenders in Victoria' (2003)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Human Services: response to Child Protection Outcomes Project - sent December 2003

* Police Cautioning of Indigenous Juvenile Offenders in Victoria (2003)

* VALS Submission to the Department of Human Services in response to Protecting Children - The Child Protection Outcomes Project (submitted 16 December 2003)