Focus on the BIG picture.
Saturday, Mar 15, 2025

Victoria's Government Faces Backlash Over New Bail Laws Impacting Aboriginal Community

Victoria's Government Faces Backlash Over New Bail Laws Impacting Aboriginal Community

Premier Jacinta Allan announces stringent bail reforms following public outcry and recommendations from a coroner's inquest.
The Victorian Government has come under intense scrutiny from Aboriginal leaders following Premier Jacinta Allan's announcement of new bail laws that are touted to be the most stringent in Australia.

This legislative change, which aims to amend the bail process, is positioned as a response to public safety concerns related to crime in the community.

The announcement follows a tumultuous period beginning with the death of Veronica Nelson, an Aboriginal woman who died in custody in January 2020 after being denied bail on shoplifting charges.

Coroner Simon McGregor, in his January 2023 findings on Nelson’s death, described the existing bail system as a "complete and unmitigated disaster," highlighting the absurdly disproportionate rates of remanding Aboriginal women.

His recommendations called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state's bail laws to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly First Nations individuals.

In response, the Labor Government had previously modified aspects of the bail test, eliminating certain offences from being considered in bail applications and prioritising remand as a last resort for low-level offenders.

However, less than a year later, Premier Allan has reversed course, citing a misjudgment in the earlier reforms.

She detailed plans to remove the last-resort principle for remand, asserting that Victorian corrections facilities possess the capacity to manage an expected increase in incarcerated individuals.

During the announcement, Premier Allan highlighted the introduction of stringent new bail tests, indicating that these changes would target serious offenses and repeat offenders.

"These new tests will be extremely hard to pass, and we will be introducing new consequences for breaking the rules," she explained.

This includes a second strike rule and newly defined offences associated with bail violations.

Allan asserted that the combination of these changes would establish laws considered the toughest across Australia.

However, Aboriginal community leaders have condemned this initiative as a regressive move.

Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, criticized the government’s efforts as a "knee-jerk announcement" that would revert to previous bail practices known to endanger lives.

She emphasized that the reinstatement of harsh bail laws risks jeopardizing the wellbeing of the Aboriginal population, raising concerns that these reforms may insult the memory of Veronica Nelson, whose tragic death was a focal point for calls for reform.

The First Peoples’ Assembly expressed similar dissent, articulating fears that the revised bail laws could exacerbate systemic issues previously outlined by the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Rueben Berg, co-chair of the Assembly, underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to the criminal legal system—one that channels resources into understanding the root causes of crime rather than enacting blanket policies that could adversely affect Aboriginal people.

In the political sphere, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has urged federal intervention to safeguard the rights of Aboriginal children amidst evolving state policies.

Thorpe stated that the new bail laws threaten to perpetuate human rights violations and compromise community safety.

Drawing attention to previously documented abuses within the juvenile justice system, she called for stronger national standards to ensure compliance from state authorities in honoring their commitments, particularly regarding Closing the Gap initiatives.

As the situation unfolds, the Victorian Government's approach to handling bail laws and its implications for the Indigenous community continues to generate significant discourse and concern among various stakeholders.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Expels South African Ambassador as Tensions Escalate Over Racist Land Seizure Policies
Thus, following the loss of a million Ukrainian lives, the devastation of the country, the collapse of the economy, and the mass exodus of its population, NATO has "declared" that Ukraine's membership is no longer being considered.
Connecticut Woman Accused of Keeping Stepson Imprisoned for Twenty Years
Bosnia and Herzegovina Confronts Political Unrest Following Arrest Warrant Issued for Serb Leader
US Postal Service Collaborates with Government Efficiency Department to Enact Workforce Cuts in Response to Financial Difficulties
This isn’t AI—it’s real. A must-watch!
Meta Plans to Introduce Community Notes Feature in March as Part of Its Evolving Content Moderation Approach
France Takes a Strong Stance Against Potential US Tariffs on Alcoholic Drinks
The Trump family is in discussions to invest in Binance.
Donatella Versace to Resign as Creative Director After Almost 30 Years
Trump's ambassador nominee confirmed Canada's sovereignty in the face of trade disputes.
Putin Shows Interest in a 30-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine During Ongoing Hostilities
U.S. Judge Rules to Reinstate Federal Employees Terminated During the Trump Administration
Trump Addresses Possible Ukraine Ceasefire Amid Continuing Tensions
Netanyahu Rejects UN Findings on Gaza as 'Inaccurate'
Trump Restates Interest in the Annexation of Greenland Due to Geopolitical Issues
Canada Submits WTO Complaint Regarding U.S. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminium
French Prime Minister Bayrou Reaffirms Position Against US Tariff Threats
These are currently on the rise in the UK.
DOJ Investigates $20 Billion Post-Election Allocation to Eight Nonprofits
Trump's Encounter with the Irish Prime Minister Takes an Unforeseen Twist Concerning Fashion and Economic Matters.
Isabel, a Russian national, wed Zahid Ali Khan, describing it as "love at first sight." Her affection for him stems from his character, not his $740 million fortune.
Chair Refers to Transgender Representative as 'Mr. McBride' During Congressional Session
DOGE has found that there are 394 million recipients of Social Security in the United States.
Rahm Emanuel Gears Up for Presidential Bid in 2028
Six Americans Freed from Kuwaiti Detention
The ICC's Revenge on Behalf of Drug Dealers, Against Philippine President Duterte, Who Fought Them and Saved 100 Million Filipinos from the Drugs-Death Industry—ignoring the fact that every victory comes at a cost
Lawsuit Filed Against Japanese University for Discriminatory Hiring Practices
Investigation Continues into Disappearances at Punta Cana Beach Following Student's Mysterious Vanishing
Canada Expresses Worries Regarding U.S. Trade Policies Prior to G7 Gathering
FBI Alerts About Increasing Smishing Scams Aimed at Mobile Users
World Bank Officials Being Examined for Travel-Related Carbon Emissions
EU and Canada Declare Countermeasures After U.S. Imposition of Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: An In-Depth Look at Their Marital Struggles and Continued Co-Parenting Efforts
Romania Excludes Top Presidential Contender Călin Georgescu from Election Repetition
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apprehended in Manila on ICC warrant.
Mark Carney Chosen as Leader of Canada's Liberal Party, Poised to Assume Prime Minister Role
Russia Expels British Diplomats in Response to Increased Tensions
Pope Francis Displays Signs of Recovery, Yet His Hospitalization Prolongs.
Significant Rescue Mission in Progress Following Collision Between Tanker and Cargo Vessel in the North Sea
U.S. Government Reveals Major Reductions to USAID Initiatives.
Leak of Radioactive Coolant Reported at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Reactor
Trump Administration Launches Self-Deportation App for Undocumented Immigrants
X Experiences Major Outage Affecting Thousands of Users
Syria Wraps Up Military Campaign Amid Widespread Violence and Large-Scale Killings
Trump Remarks on the Arrest of a Pro-Palestinian Student at Columbia University
Cyberattack Targets X: Elon Musk Points to Potential Nation-State Involvement
Trump Administration Plans New Travel Ban Including Afghanistan and Pakistan
Special Election Pending Following Death of Texas Congressman Sylvester Turner
Russian Teacher Under Investigation After Explicit Content Incident in Classroom
×