Latest articles and news by Liberty Victoria

  • Liberty Victoria Statement on the Urgent Need for Bail Reform

    Press Release
    Post date: January 30, 2023
    In light of the damning findings of the Coroner in relation to the tragic death of Ms Veronica Nelson, now is the time to fix Victoria’s broken bail laws. The Coroner has found, in the clearest terms, that Victoria’s harsh bail laws breach the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities... Read more

  • ‘Without dignity’: how Veronica Nelson’s death exposed cruelty of Victoria’s bail laws

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 28, 2023
    Despite a range of bodies calling for change, including a parliamentary inquiry, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Liberty Victoria, the police union has opposed the watering down of the laws.  

  • Victoria urged not to delay bail reforms as state awaits Veronica Nelson inquest findings

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 24, 2023
    Legal groups have urged the Victorian government not to delay reforming the state's tough bail laws, in anticipation of the findings of a major coronial inquest being handed down next week. Changes are also supported by Victoria Legal Aid, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Liberty Victoria... Read more

  • Andrews government moves to relax laws toughened after Bourke St attack

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 24, 2023
    Liberty Victoria president Michael Stanton ­described the current laws as “broken”. “We are concerned that bail laws are increasingly being used as a means of preventive detention in some circumstances where prisoners, even if found to have committed the charged offences, would not receive lengthy... Read more

  • Pressure builds on Victoria to overhaul bail laws in response to Indigenous woman’s death on remand

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 24, 2023
    Legal groups, MPs and the partner of Veronica Nelson are urging the Victorian government not to squander the opportunity to overhaul the state’s bail laws following a major coronial inquest into her death. Changes are also supported by the Law Institute of Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, Victorian... Read more

  • Bourke St tragedy bail laws face reform

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 24, 2023
    Liberty Victoria's Sam Norton said the state got the balance wrong on bail laws after Bourke Street, allowing for repeat offenders to be held on remand for low-level crimes such as shoplifting under the reverse onus test. "Engaging in law reform in response to utterly appalling acts of an... Read more

  • ‘Dangerous, discriminatory’: Legal advocates call for urgent bail reform

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 24, 2023
    In a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, human rights organisation Liberty Victoria noted that in 2020, the rate for Aboriginal adults in custody was about 1837 per 100,000 Victorian Aboriginal adults, while the general adult imprisonment rate for Victorian adults was 135. Liberty... Read more

  • Victoria’s prisons a pressure cooker as staff recruitment falls short

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: January 16, 2023
    Vice president of Liberty Victoria, Michelle Bennett, said a lack of trained staff could be a “life or death” issue for prisoners, and that time in cells should be strictly limited. “For prisoners, increased isolation limits their opportunities for rehabilitation and, accordingly, their ability to... Read more

  • Abolishing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal: An unfortunate but necessary development

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: December 27, 2022
    It is a sad indictment upon Executive government, that a costly charade is exactly what the AAT had become. The level of Executive interference with the constitution and operation of the tribunal had reached a such a level that it had almost destroyed the tribunal’s reputation for impartial and... Read more

  • Andrews errs on youth detention stats

    Liberty Victoria in the News
    Post date: December 22, 2022
    Liberty Victoria said it was vital the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised to 14 in Victoria. "This is not a matter that should result in compromise. Children don't belong in prisons," it tweeted.

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