Submissions on behalf of Uncle Percy Lovett for the Coronial Inquest into the passing of Veronica Nelson
VALS have filed submissions on behalf of Uncle Percy Lovett. Oral submissions will take place on Thursday 14 July 2022. “Percy is hopeful that any findings and recommendations the Coroner makes will bring about real change. Too many Aboriginal people have died and continue to die in custody. These repeated deaths are preventable. They must […]
Barwon Office Opening
This NAIDOC Week, help us celebrate our new office. Date: Thursday 7 July, 2022Time: 11am to middayLocation: 173 Lava Street, Warrnambool, VIC 3280 Morning tea will be provided. Click here to download the event poster to share with community. RSVP’s have closed .
Joint letter on dangerous changes to forest protest laws
VALS were one of a dozen organisations to write a letter to the Victorian Government asking them to withdraw the Sustainable Forests Timber Amendment (Timber Harvesting Safety Zones) Bill 2022. The freedom to protest must be protected. Click here to read the open letter.
Minister Anthony Carbines refused to properly consult on legislation
MEDIA RELEASE 8 June 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) The Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Anthony Carbines, has introduced the Aboriginal Statement of Recognition Bill today despite not providing VALS with an opportunity to meaningfully engage in the development of the proposed legislation We have serious concerns about the impact of this Bill, […]
Case challenging age pension discrimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people heads to Full Federal Court
31 May 2022JOINT MEDIA RELEASE (HRLC and VALS) The Federal Court has ordered that a case against the Federal Government, seeking fair and equal access to the age pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will be heard by the Full Court of the Federal Court later this year to determine important questions of […]
Case challenging age pension discrimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people returns to court
27 May 2022JOINT MEDIA RELEASE (HRLC and VALS) A Federal Court case against the federal government, seeking fair and equal access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will return to court today for an interim hearing. Proud Wakka Wakka man Uncle Dennis* brought the case that will require the federal […]
The Andrews Government fails to invest in essential Aboriginal legal services again
MEDIA RELEASE 3 May 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Today the Andrews Government chose once again to leave the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) dangerously underfunded. Perversely, this is the eighth consecutive Andrews Government budget that continues to endanger Aboriginal legal services. This failure means more of our children will be removed from their families, […]
Veronica Marie Nelson: Inquest Begins Today
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 26 April 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), Dhadjowa Foundation and Robinson Gill Lawyers The Coronial Inquest into the death in custody of Veronica Nelson begins today. The Inquest will examine the cause and circumstances of Veronica’s passing at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on 2 January 2020. It will examine the adequacy of […]
Decriminalisation of public intoxication must be done right
MEDIA RELEASE 23 April 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Over 30 years ago, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) recommended decriminalising public intoxication in all states and territories across Australia. Of the 99 Aboriginal deaths in custody that were investigated by the RCAIDIC, 35% involved Aboriginal people who were detained in relation […]
The Andrews government must not kick bail reform down the road
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has called for an overhaul of the state’s bail laws following its review of the state’s criminal legal system. The Legal and Social Issues Committee found that Victoria’s criminal legal system does not appropriately or fairly balance the maintenance of community safety with the presumption of innocence for people accused of […]
Failure in Government policy sees First Nations peoples lose millions in funeral fund collapse
Joint Media ReleaseThursday 17 March 2022 “Youpla preyed on the community’s financial vulnerability around sorry business and used fear and misinformation to sell their poor value products,” Chief Executive Officer Nerita Waight said. “The Australian Government need to cover the losses suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had a Youpla policy. The […]
Open Letter regarding Police Swearing In
Today fourteen legal organisations wrote a letter to Police Minister Lisa Neville, expressing serious concern about Victoria Police’s failure to correctly swear in more than 1,200 police officers over the last eight years. The open letter highlights the serious harms that this mistake has caused, and the troubling lack of reflection in the government’s rush […]
Victoria’s Stolen Generations Redress Scheme is a step on a journey towards justice
MEDIA RELEASE 3 March 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Content warning: this document contains discussions of abuse and trauma VALS acknowledges and pays our respects to the members of the Stolen Generations. In Victoria, the Stolen Generations started as early as 1837 when the Church Missionary Society set up the Yarra Mission for Aboriginal children. […]
Addressing Coercive Control Without Criminalisation: Unlocking Victorian Justice Webinar
DATE: Tuesday 8 March 2022TIME: 12.45pm to 2pmREGISTRATION LINK: tinyurl.com/IWDCCVALS In January, VALS published a policy paper titled “Addressing Coercive Control Without Criminalisation: Avoiding Blunt Tools that Fail Victim-Survivors”. On International Women’s Day, VALS is hosting this webinar to continue this important conversation. In this webinar, there will be a short community legal education session […]
Public health response crucial to public intoxication reforms
MEDIA RELEASE 19 February 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) A new model for responding to public intoxication is due to take affect in November, but there are still many questions about how the reform will be implemented. VALS believes that it is crucial that Aboriginal services are properly funded to play an important role in […]