April 23, 2025
2025 Federal Election – Victorian community legal sector priorities
In the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election, the Federation is calling on all parties and candidates to commit to reforms: Address cost of living and housing pressures; Accountable government and safeguards against systemic harm; Increase access to justice for all; Create fair and safe migration policies; and Truth-telling, treaty and self-determination.
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April 02, 2025
Community groups welcome passage of hate speech protections in Victoria
Community legal centres welcome the passage of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill through the Victorian Parliament upper house with amendments to strengthen how it will work in practice.
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March 28, 2025
Victorian community legal sector welcomes recommendations to improve sexual violence victim-survivors’ experiences of the legal system
The Australian Law Reform Commission has released its Safe, Informed, Supported: Reforming Justice Responses to Sexual Violence report, that was tabled in the Australian Parliament by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on 6 March 2025.
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March 17, 2025
Rushed expansion of police search powers another example of policy that does more harm than good
Today, the Victorian Premier announced a huge expansion of police powers, by extending the Chief Commissioner’s power to declare a designated area for police to search anyone without a warrant or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity from 12 hours to six months. These measures will be introduced through the Terrorism (Community Protection) and Control of Weapons Amendment Bill which is due to be debated in the upper house next week.
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March 12, 2025
Bail reforms must prioritise community safety, not criminalisation – support Poccum’s Law
Victorian community legal centres strongly oppose the Premier’s announcement to overhaul bail laws and reinstate previous laws that were an “unmitigated disaster”, and led to the tragic and preventable death in custody of Aboriginal woman Veronica Nelson.
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