VALS is deeply saddened by the news that an Aboriginal man died in Ravenhall Correctional Centre on 7 March 2021. Another Aboriginal family is left to deal with the consequences of a system that imprisons us at staggering rates. Devastatingly, this is the third Aboriginal death in custody in Australia in one week.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The recommendations of the Commission have never been fully implemented. There have been more than 455 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Commission’s report was tabled.

This tragedy will be the first to be dealt with under the Coroners Court Practice Direction 6 – Indigenous Deaths in Custody. The new protocols are designed to empower Aboriginal voices during the process and ensure investigations happen in a timely matter. This requires the initial hearing to happen within 28 days of the person’s death.

VALS raised our concerns when the new protocols were introduced that we were not being properly funded by Government to fulfill the role we have been given. We again ask the Victorian Government to properly fund our services so that we can make a real difference for our people.

VALS has developed a COVID-19 recovery plan, Building Back Better, to advise the Victorian and Federal Governments on how to ensure that, following the pandemic crisis, the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are improved. The plan includes evidence-based, achievable policies for systemic change. We are disappointed at the lack of engagement of both Governments on our proposals and recommendations

Building Back Better, has a raft of recommendations in relation to places of detention. We know that the pandemic has had a severe impact for people in places of detention. That is why we have asked the Victorian Government to include us in the process to implement the National Preventative Mechanism under Australia’s OPCAT obligations. Independent, culturally-appropriate detention oversight is a critical step to ending deaths in custody.

The Victorian Government must immediately reconsider their law and order agenda which has disproportionality affected Aboriginal communities, particularly Aboriginal women, and fully implement the outstanding recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, repeal their draconian bail laws, and properly fund Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

The announcement of the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission this week was a hopeful moment for many people. The news of this tragic death is a reminder that there is immediate work to be done. VALS is ready and willing to work with and support the Victorian Government to implement the systemic change that is needed.

Quotes Attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

“My thoughts are with the family and community of the Aboriginal man who died in Ravenhall Correctional Centre on the weekend. This is a trauma that will have a lasting impact.”

“This death highlights the urgent need for sweeping reforms to the justice system. Our people are grossly overrepresented in the criminal legal system and in prisons. We have the solutions ready for Government. We just need them to listen and act.”

“We await the Victorian Attorney-General and the Justice Minister to answer our calls for change and empower us to lead the way.”