Victoria’s youth legal service says Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into NSW police misconduct and cover-ups reflects a systemic problem that extends beyond state borders and warns that young Victorians are disproportionately failed by a system never designed to serve them.
Youthlaw, which provides free legal help to young people across Victoria, says the case of Brad Kellson — who was allegedly assaulted by NSW police and left in the ICU while officers worked to cover up what happened — is a serious but not isolated example of what happens when police oversight systems are ineffective, opaque, and lacking independence.
“The extreme police misconduct we saw exposed in NSW is confronting, but it’s not surprising to anyone who works in this space,” said Sophie Ellis, Manager of Youthlaw’s Crime Practice.
“Young people we work with every day tell us the same thing: when something goes wrong in an encounter with police, there is nowhere safe to go. Victoria’s police complaints system is designed in a way that makes it inaccessible, retraumatising, and in most cases pointless. Most complaints are investigated by police and unsubstantiated. The outcome is almost always the same – young victims of police misconduct denied the justice they deserve.”
In Victoria, the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) is responsible for oversight of Victoria Police, but the reality falls short of genuine independence. Most complaints about police misconduct are referred back to Victoria Police for investigation. Young people, particularly First Nations young people, young people who are over-policed, and young people experiencing homelessness, are disproportionately let down when they experience police violence, and told that their only recourse is an internal police investigation.
Yesterday’s Victorian Government announcement to expand IBAC’s powers to investigate government-related corruption is a welcome step and reflects the kind of evidence-based reform advocates have long called for. But these changes do not address the deep-seated concerns about transparency, independence, and community trust in IBAC’s ability to investigate alleged police misconduct. Expanding IBAC’s remit is not a substitute for a dedicated oversight mechanism designed with victims of police misconduct.
The Yoorrook Justice Commission found that Victoria’s oversight system “routinely denies or justifies police misconduct and fails to hold officers or management to account,” and recommended a fully independent police oversight authority led by a non-police statutory officer.[1] Community legal centres have been advocating for an independent Police Ombudsman that is trauma-informed, culturally safe, and empowered to investigate police complaints, conduct own-motion investigations, and report publicly on systemic issues.[2] Youthlaw backs evidence-based calls for an independent Police Ombudsman in Victoria.
“The Victorian Government knows that an independent Police Ombudsman is needed in Victoria as a critical safeguard to investigate police brutality, misconduct and abuse of force,” said Lee Carnie, CEO of Youthlaw. “Young people who have been mistreated by police have called for it. The Yoorrook Justice Commission has recommended it. The community legal sector supports it. Young Victorians deserve an independent police complaints system that actually works.”
[END STATEMENT]About Youthlaw
Youthlaw is Victoria’s specialist community legal centre for young people under 25. We provide free legal information, advice, casework, court representation, community legal education and systemic advocacy for young people statewide.
Spokespeople available for interview:
Sophie Ellis, Manager of Crime Practice, Youthlaw
Lee Carnie, CEO, Youthlaw
Media Contact: Casey Dean | Media and Communications Lead, Youthlaw | [email protected] | 0494 614 506
[1] Yoorrook for Justice report (2023) p 20.
[2] Action For Justice: A Roadmap for Change policy platform (2025) rec 44.