Victoria can lead the way to enable true self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been asking for self-determination for a long time. Self-determination has been a key call in the hundreds of submissions and many, many hours of testimony given to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, as they held inquiries into the criminal legal and child protection systems. Today, Yoorrook released an interim […]
Statement regarding “ASIC launches proceedings against five Youpla Group directors”
Today ASIC launched proceedings against Youpla Group. Quotes attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service: For decades, the private funeral insurance company ‘Youpla’ aggressively sold poor-value funeral plans to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They subsequently collapsed, leaving thousands of people unable to access funeral plans they had already paid […]
Victorian Government’s Bail Bill is a good first step, but can be improved
VALS has been proud to represent Uncle Percy, Veronica Nelson’s partner, during his fight for justice. Uncle Percy, along with Veronica’s mother, Aunty Donna Nelson who is represented by Robinson Gill, have been clear on their calls for changes to the bail laws. Veronica Nelson was a strong Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta […]
STATEMENTS: Uncle Percy Lovett and Nerita Waight on bail reform in Victoria
Quotes attributable to Uncle Percy Lovett, partner of Veronica Nelson “Veronica shouldn’t have been refused bail. She wouldn’t have hurt anyone. What happened to Veronica should never happen again.” “The Government needs to make real changes to bail laws to stop so many people getting locked up before they have even been sentenced.” “No one […]
Victorian Government kickstarts expansion of Aboriginal legal services
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service needs to be able to help our communities when and where they need it. A key part of our vision has been our Aboriginal Justice Hubs, our plan to expand our local office network, because we’re at our best when our communities can self-determine the services they need. Today, the […]
Mathew Luttrell Coronial Inquests recommends culturally-specific mental health services
The family of Mathew Luttrell welcome the Coroner’s recommendations to improve mental health services in Mildura and ensure that they are culturally appropriate. The family hope that the recommendations are implemented without delay. Mathew was a proud Yorta Yorta man and a father who loved his children and his partner. He was a hard worker […]
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service will continue our hard work to keep children out of the criminal legal system
Prisons do not rehabilitate our children. Police contact is traumatising and harmful for our children. VALS has worked hard for 50 years to stop the overpolicing and overincarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children – and we will continue that struggle. Today the Victorian Government has announced that it will immediately raise the age […]
Statement regarding reports that Victoria will raise the age of criminal responsibility
Quotes Attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of VALS: “The Premier promised to show leadership on raising the age of criminal responsibility and reports today that the government will only raise the age to 12 years old are incredibly disappointing.” “If the Government is considering raising the age to 14 years old in the future, why […]
The Police Association of Victoria is misleading Victorians in a shameful scare campaign
Victoria needs to invest in services that make communities stronger, not more police. Community services such as VALS’ Aboriginal Justice Hubs, which we have been trying to get Government funding for over the last 5 years, have not been invested in by Government. The Police Association of Victoria Secretary Wayne Gatt has made misleading comments […]
Poccum’s Law: the blueprint to fix the Andrews Government’s discriminatory bail laws
The family of Veronica Marie Nelson, a strong Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman who passed away in custody, are calling on the Andrews government to implement urgent changes to the state’s bail laws and have asked that these reforms are referred to as Poccum’s Law. “Poccum” was the nickname Veronica received […]