Yoorrook Justice Commission Public Hearings: 26 April to 6 May 2022

The purpose of these hearings was to listen to Victorian First Peoples’ Elders whose experiences illustrate many of the key impacts of colonisation still felt today.

In addition, on 5 May 2022, the Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Marcus Stewart appeared at the hearing. On 6 May 2022, the Victorian Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Gabrielle Williams MP appeared.

The issues examined at the hearings included:

- The importance and scope of Treaty and truth-telling
- Dispossession of First Peoples from their lands and waters
- Ongoing dispossession by law and systemic injustice
- Removals of children
- Responsibility of the State and State entities for First Peoples’ dispossession
- Constitutional, structural and justice reforms

Elders’ Hearing – Uncle Johnny Lovett - Day 1

Elders’ Hearing – Uncle Jack Charles

Elders’ Hearing – Aunty Fay Carter OAM

Elders’ Hearing – Aunty Alma Thorpe

Hearing From The First Peoples’ Assembly Of Victoria – Co - Chair Marcus Stewart

Yoorrook Justice Commission Public Hearings: 20 May to 27 May 2022

The purpose of these public hearings was to hear from Victorian First Peoples’ Elders whose experiences illustrate many of the key impacts of colonisation still felt today.

The issues examined at the hearings included:

- Dispossession of First Peoples from their lands and waters
- Ongoing systemic injustice
- Removals of children
- Responsibility of the State and State entities for First Peoples’ dispossession

Elders’ Hearing – Uncle Larry Walsh Part 1

Public Hearings: 5 to 9 December 2022

The purpose of these public hearings were to hear from Aboriginal leaders working in child protection as part of Yoorrook’s inquiry into the harm done to First Peoples by unjust laws and practices within this system.

Child protection system hearing - Day 3

The purpose of these public hearings was to hear from Aboriginal leaders working in child protection as part of Yoorrook’s inquiry into the harm done to First Peoples by unjust laws and practices within this system.

Witnesses gave evidence about issues including:

- The lifelong impacts of child removal on the child, their family and community
- The harmful and enduring loss of connection to culture and kin that can result from child removal
- The need for greater investment in early intervention support for families to prevent child removal
- The importance of culturally appropriate early childhood education in supporting families and connecting children to culture
- A lack of understanding and respect for Aboriginal family structures and approaches to raising children that do not match white, middle class expectations by many child protection workers
- The need to better support kinship and/or mob care as an alternative to the current foster care system
- Racism and power imbalances affecting the services provided to First Peoples by government agencies
- The challenges to self-determination faced by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations as a result of government bureaucracy and mistrust
- The cycle of children in the child protection system entering the criminal justice system
- The need to raise the age of criminal responsibility
- Innovative alternative approaches such as the Marram Ngala Ganbyu children’s court

Child protection system hearing - Day 2

Child protection system hearing - Day 5

Child protection system hearing - Day 4

Elders’ Hearing – Uncle Larry Walsh Part 2

The purpose of these public hearings was to hear from Aboriginal leaders working in the area of criminal justice as part of Yoorrook’s inquiry into the harm done to First Peoples by unjust laws and practices within this system.

Witnesses gave evidence about issues including:

- Police and prisons being used to deal with First Peoples experiencing mental health and homelessness issues
- First Peoples being incarcerated for crimes of poverty
- The connection between domestic violence and the incarceration of Aboriginal - women
- The disproportionate use of tasers on and strip searches of First Peoples, including children, by police
- The need to raise the age of criminal responsibility
- The impact of failing to implement changes to Victoria’s public drunkenness laws
- The need for independent police oversight and better training of police to improve interactions with First Peoples
- The need to reform the Bail Act to reduce deaths in custody
- The benefits of expanding the Koori Court and the need to develop a specialist state-wide Children’s Court
- The lack of readily available and culturally appropriate healthcare in prisons
- A need for better training and cultural knowledge for all legal professionals
- That self-determination should represent actual decision-making power rather than consultation or codesign with First Peoples

Criminal justice system hearing - Day 8

Criminal justice system hearing - Day 7

Criminal justice system hearing - Day 9

Criminal justice system hearing – Day 6

The purpose of these public hearings was to hear from Victorian First Peoples’ Elders whose experiences illustrate many of the key impacts of colonisation still felt today.

The issues examined at the hearings included:

Dispossession of First Peoples from their lands and waters
Ongoing systemic injustice
Removals of children
Responsibility of the State and State entities for First Peoples’ dispossession

Elders’ Hearing – Uncle Colin Walker

The purpose of these public hearings is to hear from Community members with first-hand experience of the child protection and criminal justice systems.

During the first week, the Commission will hear from First Peoples including parents whose children have been removed, carers and members of the Stolen Generations as part of their inquiry into the child protection system.

Child protection system hearing – Community Voices Day 2

Child protection system hearing – Community Voices Day 3

The Yoorrook Justice Commission held a directions hearing at 10am on Monday March 27 regarding the Victorian Government’s non-compliance with the Commission’s orders to produce evidence.

Directions hearing - 27/03/2023

The Yoorrook Justice Commission held a directions hearing at 10am on Tuesday 4 April for an update on the Victorian Government’s response to a previous failure to comply with the Commission’s orders to produce evidence.

Directions hearing - 4/04/2023

The purpose of these public hearings is for the Yoorrook Justice Commission to question Victorian government ministers, senior bureaucrats and the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police about the administration of the child protection and criminal justice systems.

Witness:
- Argiri Alisandratos, Acting Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Child protection system hearing – Government and departmental day 1

Child protection system hearing - Government and departmental Day 2

Commissioners and Counsel from the Yoorrook Justice Commission questioned two senior bureaucrats from the Victorian Department of Health - Katherine Whetton, Deputy Secretary, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Eleanor Williams, Executive Director, Strategy and Policy.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

Child protection and criminal justice system hearing - Government and departmental Day 3

Commissioners and counsel questioned two senior bureaucrats from the Department of Justice and Community Safety - Secretary Kate Houghton and Deputy Secretary of Courts, Civil and Criminal Law Marian Chapman. Dr Tamar Hopkins, a police accountability expert also gave evidence.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org...

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Criminal justice systems hearing - Government and departmental day 4

Commissioners and counsel questioned senior bureaucrats about Victoria's criminal justice system.

Witnesses:
- Andrea Davidson, Commissioner, Youth Justice
- Joshua Smith, Deputy Secretary, Youth Justice, Department of Justice and Community Safety
- Larissa Strong, Commissioner, Corrections Victoria
- Ryan Phillips, Acting Associate Secretary, Corrections and Justice Services, Department of Justice and Community Safety

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org...

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJust...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Criminal justice systems hearing - Government and departmental day 5

Yoorrook Commissioners and counsel questioned Victoria's Attorney-General The Hon. Jaclyn Symes MLC about Victoria's criminal justice system.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/have-your-say/make-a-submission/

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Criminal justice systems hearing - Government and departmental day 6

Watch as Yoorrook Commissioners and counsel question the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton APM and the Minister for Police, The Hon. Anthony Carbines MP.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/have-your-say/make-a-submission/

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Criminal justice systems hearing - Government and departmental day 7

Yoorrook Commissioners and counsel questioned the Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Argiri Alisandratos, about Victoria's child protection system.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/have-your-say/make-a-submission/

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Child protection system hearing - Government and departmental day 8

Hearings at the Yoorrook Justice Commission continued, with a focus on Victoria's child protection system.

From 9am-11:30 am, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People and Yorta Yorta woman Meena Singh gave evidence.

Then from 11:30 am - 4 pm, Commissioners and counsel questioned the Minister for Child Protection and Family Services the Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MLC.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/have-your-say/make-a-submission/

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

Child protection system hearing - Government and departmental day 9

The Commissioners and counsel questioned the Minister for Corrections and Youth Justice about Victoria's criminal justice system. Then the Executive Director West Division and the Deputy Secretary of Aboriginal Self Determination and Outcomes from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing  about Victoria's child protection system.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and a Royal Commission investigating systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples.

All First Peoples who have experienced injustice in Victoria are strongly encouraged to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

You can make a submission at: 
https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/have-your-say/make-a-submission/

You can also keep up to date with the Yoorrook Justice Commission on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoorrookJusticeCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoorrookjc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoorrook/

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