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 should be locked up and refused bail if they wouldn’t get a prison sentence”

Quotes attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of VALS:

“Bail reform is happening in Victoria because of the tragic passing of Veronica Nelson. Her story and the demands of her family should be the basis of bail reform.”

“Veronica Nelson was a proud Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman. She belonged to a large family, with 6 siblings and 10 children that she loved and cared for as her own.”

“She was a deeply spiritual woman, whose connection to her culture was incredibly important to her; this was a gift that she would regularly share with those around her.”

“Veronica’s family and Aboriginal communities across Victoria have been consistent in asking for urgent bail reform. It has been three and a half years since Veronica’s passing – why should we have to wait any longer? The Andrews Government have shown they can move much quicker when they care to.”

“Veronica’s family have asked for Poccum’s Law, bail reforms that would include, removing the presumption against bail, granting access to bail unless there is a serious and immediate safety risk, removing all bail offences, and ensuring that a person is not remanded if they are unlikely to receive a sentence of imprisonment.”

“Aboriginal women, like Veronica, and Aboriginal children have been disproportionately impacted by the bail laws implemented by the Andrews Government in 2017.”

“The 2017 bail laws were the most punitive and regressive in Australia. They’re now being replicated across the country and will surely create as much damage as they have here in Victoria.”

“The 2017 bail laws are a stain on Daniel Andrews time as Premier – they are his biggest policy failure. They have done immeasurable harm to thousands of people, their families, and their communities. The bail laws have also driven a huge increase in the incarcerations rate causing a gigantic black hole in the state budget as billions of dollars are sunk into prisons and police, instead of the things that actually make our communities safer like secure housing and income, health and education services, and culturally safe support services.”