This week the Victorian Government will table a Bill to amend provisions of the Bail Act 1977 and the Youth Justice Act 2024.
The proposed amendments are being touted by the government as ‘Australia’s toughest bail laws’. The proposed reforms will have an incredibly harmful impact on vulnerable communities, especially Aboriginal women and children who are experiencing family violence.
It is shameful that the Allan Government prides itself on forcing through harmful laws that will disproportionally impact our communities.
The 2023 bail reforms came after the death of Veronica Nelson – an Aboriginal woman who passed away in prison after calling for help for hours, whilst on remand for minor charges.
The harrowing loss of Veronica and the staunch advocacy of her family led to the positive 2023 bail reforms. We cannot let the government regress the life-saving amendments that were enacted only last year.
Victoria needs Poccum’s Law now.
Youthlaw has endorsed an open letter, published by VALS calling on the Victorian Government to do the right thing and follow through with their commitment to make Victoria’s bail laws fair.
Youthlaw supports VALS and the other signatories of the open letter, which includes over 100 Aboriginal, social, family violence, and legal organisations that are specialists in their respective areas.
See the open letter here.