This is where you will find recent and past submissions, reports and statements from the Federation of Community Legal Centres. Alongside our members, we fight for economic and social justice, and proudly seek to reshape justice and create more equitable laws.
We want a community that is fair, inclusive and thriving: where every person belongs and can learn, grow, heal, participate and be heard.
Yoorrook Justice Commission inquiry into the injustices faced by First Peoples in Victoria's criminal justice system (2022)
The Federation has made a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission inquiry into the injustices faced by First Peoples in Victoria's criminal justice system. The Federation also endorses the submissions made by the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Djirra to this inquiry.
Read our submission to the inquiry here.
Response to consultation on Draft National Principles to Address Coercive Control (2022)
The Federation provided feedback on the draft National Principles to Address Coercive Control following consultation with the Family Violence Working Group, the Family Violence Justice Advocacy Network and other key stakeholders.
Read our feedback to this consultation here.
Feedback on Draft National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 (2022)
The Federation responded to the survey on the Draft National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.
The National Plan is critical in comprehensively addressing how Australia will reduce and ultimately end family violence against women and children. This requires all levels of government to commit to concrete and measurable actions which are sufficiently resourced.
Read our response to the survey here.
Pathway to Decarceration: A Justice System Response to COVID-19 (2020)
High rates of community transmission in Victoria and positive COVID-19 tests of people in the prison system, including staff, means there is an immediate risk that COVID-19 will further enter the prison system in Victoria and become increasingly difficult to contain.
Given the high rate of ‘churn’ or movement within the system, there is also a significant public health risk should an outbreak in prison occur, placing additional pressure on the health care system and emergency services and putting Victorian lives at risk.
The Federation of Community Legal Centres and the Law Institute of Victoria have developed a nine-point plan to reduce the number of people in the prison system in Victoria, thereby reducing the threat of COVID-19 throughout the system and the wider Victorian community.
The Pathway to Decarceration: A Justice System Response to COVID-19 sets out a clear pathway for the Government to reduce the potential impact of the current pandemic while maintaining a fairer response to justice in Victoria.
Read Pathway to Decarceration: A Justice System Response to COVID-19 here.
Past Submissions
2022
Submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission's stalking consultation
Submission to the Federal Inquiry on long COVID and repeated COVID infections
Response to the survey on Victoria's Wellbeing Plan
Recommended changes to the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Bill 2022
Position paper on criminal legal reforms - public decency offences and the expansion of police powers at police premises
2021
Submission on the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill
Submission to the Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System - Federation of Community Legal Centres and Smart Justice for Women
Submission to the review of Victims' Experience of Summary Criminal Proceedings
2020
Submission to the Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria
Raise the Age: Submission to the Council of Attorney's General here
Submission to the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor Review
2019
Submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
Submission to the Legislative Council's Inquiry into a Spent Convictions Scheme
2018
A Just and Fair Victoria: 2018 Budget Submission
Restorative Justice not Prisons: State Election Position Paper
2016
Submission to the Access to Justice Review
2014
Submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence
Putting the Law to Work: Employment Law in Victoria
2012
Access to Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors with Cognitive Impairment
