The Victorian Government’s budget has left Aboriginal people behind
Media Release – 25th November 2020 The Government’s Budget that was announced yesterday, which is so generous to Victoria Police, to Corrections and to Youth Justice, fails vulnerable Aboriginal people. During the pandemic, our people have been over-policed, receiving a disproportionate number of fines, have experienced more family violence and homelessness, have been heavily impacted […]
The Victorian Aboriginal community must not be left behind
MEDIA RELEASE 11 November 2020 The Victorian Aboriginal community must not be left behind in the COVID-19 recovery response Today the Victorian Government announced that it is investing $235 million to building the recovery workforce, and $40 million to support a service delivery fund for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations […]
Supporting Rehabilitation
MEDIA RELEASE 5 November 2020 Supporting rehabilitation – an important step to address the stigma and discrimination of having a criminal record VALS and the RMIT University Centre for Innovative Justice congratulate the Government on the introduction of the Spent Convictions Bill 2020, and we particularly acknowledge the contribution of the Woor-Dungin Criminal Record Discrimination […]
VALS strongly opposes preventative detention forming part of the COVID-19 response
VALS strongly opposes preventative detention forming part of the COVID-19 response VALS emphasises that any deprivation of liberty, even during a public health emergency, must not be arbitrary. The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) states that a ‘person must not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.’ Early on in the […]
VALS Stands in Solidarity with the Yuendumu Community for Justice
MEDIA RELEASE 4 September 2020 Despite it being nearly 30 years since the recommendations were handed down by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, a further 439 Aboriginal lives have been lost within the justice system. This week the Alice Springs court heard the accounts of Kumanjayi Walker, a 19-year-old, Warlpiri man, who […]
VALS supports the Day family’s call for justice and police accountability
MEDIA RELEASE 27 August 2020 VALS stands in solidarity with Tanya Day’s family at this incredibly difficult time, and supports their call for accountability and justice. The Day family has courageously and tirelessly advocated for justice for Tanya Day, for an end to police impunity, for no other families to experience the loss and pain […]
Increased police powers must not be free kick for discrimination
Tuesday 11 August 2020 In response to Premier Andrew’s declaration of a state ofdisaster in Victoria, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, legal and humanrights organisations are calling for strong safeguards to ensure that policepowers are exercised fairly and proportionately during the public healthcrisis. The declaration of a state of disaster has grantedsignificant powers directly to […]
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System Supplementary Submission
On 5 July 2019, VALS made a submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. This is a supplementary submission to assist the Commission, specifically focusing on the following of the Royal Commission’s Terms of Reference: 4. How to improve mental health outcomes, taking into account best practice and person-centred treatment and care […]
The COVID-19 outbreak should be undertaken by professional cleaning staff, who have access to PPE
The crucial and high-risk job of cleaning prisons to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak should be undertaken by professional cleaning staff, who have access to PPE MEDIA RELEASE 10 August 2020 VALS is highly concerned by reports that people detained in prison are undertaking the high-risk work of cleaning common areas of prisons; that they have […]
The VALS website is being updated
The update process will be completed by 5pm on the 5th of August. If you need to contact VALS, please call us on 1800 064 865
The Government’s decisions are critical to containing the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, youth detention centres
MEDIA RELEASE 21 July 2020 The Government’s decisions over the next few days and weeks are critical to containing the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, youth detention centres and across Victoria Despite the Government’s efforts, COVID-19 has entered Victoria’s prison and youth detention systems. In the latest, alarming developments, six prisons are now in lockdown, […]
VALS calls for human rights compliant response to Covid-19 case in Melbourne prison
VALS calls for a human rights compliant, health driven government response to confirmed covid-19 case in Melbourne prison VALS understands that a recently detained person in a Melbourne prison has been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. We have been advised that the person is being provided with medical care and is currently in protective quarantine. The […]
VALS Calls Victorian Government to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility to 14
Today, the Council of Attorneys-General decided not to raise the age of criminal responsibility. This is despite research from the Australia Institute and Change the Record that shows that most Australians agree children as young as 10 years old do not belong in prison, and that Australia’s age of criminal responsibility should be increased from […]
A ‘leading’ youth justice system is one where children under 14 are not imprisoned
The Victorian Government’s new Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020-2030 contains some strong elements that will have a positive impact on the lives of children in Victoria. However, Smart Justice for Young People, a coalition of social services, health, legal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, youth advocacy organisations and academic experts, are calling for the Victorian […]
VALS outraged by death in custody of proud Yorta Yorta woman
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) would like to express its sincere condolences and support to the family, friends and community of Veronica Marie Nelson Walker, a proud Yorta Yorta woman who passed away in Dame Phyllis Front Centre on Thursday 2nd January 2020. We are outraged by this death and tragic loss. Full statement […]