Our children deserve better
MEDIA RELEASE 17 February 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) VALS is disappointed by the Andrews Government’s response to the landmark Our Youth, Our Way report. The Andrews Government has decided to continue putting 10 year olds in prison and refused urgently need reforms to the state’s punitive bail laws. This week we marked 14 years […]
VALS’ Invasion Day Webinar 2022
https://youtu.be/OKLZLQo6Gq0 An all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander panel discussion about important justice issues. In the lead up to Invasion Day 2022, VALS is hosted a panel discussion about Aboriginal Self-Determination, systemic racism, ending Aboriginal deaths in custody, and protest rights. Panel Moderator: Nerita Waight, CEO of VALS Nerita is a proud Yorta Yorta woman […]
VALS’ Invasion Day Webinar
In the lead up to Invasion Day, VALS is hosting a panel discussion about Aboriginal Self-Determination, systemic racism, ending Aboriginal deaths in custody, and protest rights. Registration link: www.tinyurl.com/ID22VALSDate: Friday 21 January 2022Time: 1pm to 2pm
Ms Calgaret’s story must be told
Ms Calgaret was a kind soul and mother to her four children and her whole family. She was a proud Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman. Ms Calgaret loved her culture and enjoyed painting and writing. Ms Calgaret had so much more life to live and love to give and wanted to do make positive […]
Victoria must not wait to act on bail reform
14 December 2021 It has been 200 days since VALS and over 50 other human rights, legal, and community organisations wrote to the Andrews Government about the need for urgent bail reform. 200 days later, the Andrews Government has remained committed to an uncompromising and harsh law and order approach that has a devastating impact […]
Victoria’s Politicians must Support Aboriginal legal services and a better justice system at 2022 election
The 2022 election is an opportunity for Victoria’s politicians to dream big and commit to policies that will deliver for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the immediate and longer terms. The Treaty process and the establishment of the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission by the Victorian Government has the potential to deliver a better future […]
Opening comments to the Inquiry into Victoria’s Criminal Justice System
Delivered by George Selvanera, Acting CEO, on Thursday 21 October 2021 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Thank you very much Chair. First let me acknowledge that I am coming to you today from our offices in Melbourne on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people. I pay respect to their elders, past, present and emerging and of […]
Andrews Government can do more to manage the COVID outbreak in Victorian prisons
5 October 2021 Corrections Victoria have announced that 36 people across five of Victoria’s prisons currently have COVID-19. Prisons have a similar risk profile to aged care facilities in terms of the potential for uncontrollable outbreaks. That risk exists for both people in prison and the broader Victorian community given the regular movement of staff. […]
Legal challenge launched to secure fair access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Originally published by the Human Rights Law Centre A Federal Court case has been launched against the Morrison Government, seeking fair and equal access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Proud Wakka Wakka man Dennis* is bringing a case that will require the Federal Government to face court for the first time in connection with its […]
Victoria Police must implement Coroner’s findings from Inquest into the death of Raymond Noel
MEDIA RELEASE 20 September 2021 Raymond Noel Lindsay Thomas (referred to as “Raymond Noel” for cultural reasons) was a proud Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man. Raymond Noel died in a police pursuit on 25 June 2017. Four years on, Raymond Noels’ family and community still feel tremendous grief and pain from his tragic and preventable […]
VALS welcomes the Victorian Government’s move to strengthen anti-vilification laws
2 September 2021 VALS welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement today that they will proceed with legislation to make Victoria a fairer place for everyone. The Victorian Government has committed itself to implementing the recommendations of the Anti-Vilification Protections Inquiry tabled by the Legal and Social Issues Committee in March. VALS worked closely with Charmaine Clarke […]
The Andrews Government’s love affair with policing is cheating Victoria out of an effective pandemic strategy
MEDIA RELEASE 17 August 2021 The imposition of curfews this week raises the troubling prospect that the Andrews Government has not learnt from the decision-making errors it made during the first year of the pandemic. It is detracting attention from vaccines and public health messaging and still thinks it can police its way out of […]
Webinar – Issue Spotting: Consumer, Credit and Debt Matter – 12 August 2021
Download the invite by clicking here. VALS will be hosting a legal information webinar on Thursday 12 August 2021, from 1pm to 2.30pm. We encourage all mob in Victoria to register if you have questions about consumer issues and how VALS and Consumer Action can help you. Register at tinyurl.com/tzx32c58.
Response to the Victorian Government’s Media Release – Chisholm Road Prison Exceeds Geelong Jobs Target
Quote attributable to Andreea Lachsz, Head of Policy, Communications and Strategy, VALS: The expansion of the carceral system in Victoria should be cause for alarm; it is certainly not something to be celebrated. Building more prisons is evidence of this Government’s failed policies, such as Victoria’s punitive bail laws, which have seen Aboriginal women remanded […]
The Andrews Government won’t meet its Closing The Gap justice targets if it refuses to reform its punitive bail laws
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 29 July 2021Victorian Aboriginal Legal ServiceFitzroy Legal ServiceHuman Rights Law Centre The Andrews Government must urgently reform its punitive bail laws if it is to meet the justice targets it signed on to in the new Closing the Gap Agreement last year. The first Annual Data Compilation Report mapping progress under the […]