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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]