Jacinta Allan is actively dismantling once protected principles of the legal system
As the final sitting week of Parliament for the year comes to a close, VALS condemns the Allan Labor government’s suite of regressive reforms introduced throughout this year that have actively dismantled the principles of justice; fairness, equality and access. It is a deplorable state of affairs. What began with bail laws, which has led to the mass pre-trial incarceration of our children and adults, to the expansion of police powers, […]
Our children deserve futures, not life sentences
VALS condemns the Justice Legislation Amendment (Community Safety) Bill 2025, which removes critical safeguards for children and reflects a deliberate disdain for the rights of children. The Allan Labor government’s blatant disregard for the rights of children will be remembered as a shameful, careless injustice on our kids today, and for future generations to come. […]
Putting under-trained PSOs in shopping centres with handguns is a danger to us all
The introduction of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Bill 2025 to the Victorian Parliament has caused distress among community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services. Community legal centres strongly oppose the expansion of Protective service officers’ powers. We have been blindsided by these announcements, with no consultation on the plan to expand […]
Boundaries are one thing Premier, giving children life sentences shows Victoria is a cruel and unforgiving state
VALS strongly condemns the Victorian government’s introduction of inhumane youth legal reforms which will see tougher sentencing laws including children being sentenced to life. It is clear the government holds no hope for young people who make mistakes and instead require targeted support at a critical time to change the trajectory of their young lives. […]
Treaty is the only path forward
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service supports Treaty. On Tuesday as the Statewide Treaty Bill was debated in Parliament, the Liberal party announced not only that they would repeal it within the first 100 days if elected next November but that their proposed model would instead establish a new advisory body, that would sit within a […]
Primary school aged children still held criminally responsible, hardly the headline of a progressive government.
Aboriginal children should grow up with their family in safe and nurturing homes, connected to their culture and community, be supported to go to school, and learn from their mistakes so they can thrive. Today the Youth Justice Act 2024 will commence – meaning the criminal age of responsibility in Victoria has risen from 10 […]
Notice of Annual General Meeting and Explanatory Notes
The 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members of South Eastern Australian Aboriginal Justice Services Limited (Company) will be held: For those members who will attend the meeting in person, the meeting venue is 273 High Street, Preston, 3072. For those members who will attend the meeting by teleconference, the dial-in details are:Click here to join the […]
The silence of complacency: empty rhetoric will cost lives
Last night’s budget shows where on the priority list Aboriginal peoples are. Prime Minister Albanese is pursuing popular votes for the upcoming election, rather than showing leadership on the issues that affect us, and for the generations to come. It is clear that our people’s vote doesn’t matter, so the federal budget has remained largely […]
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 […]