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 […]
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