Text reading "Labor’s new bail laws will take us backwards. We need real solutions that will keep the community safe" Background image from a protest on the steps of Parliament, people holding up many banners with the biggest reading "Kids don't belong in prison"
Text reading "The evidence shows that “tough” bail laws do nothing to improve community safety. What actually works is early intervention, preventative and diversion programs. 84% of participants in Youth Umbrella Project Wyndham stayed clear of reoffending. But Labor’s last budget cut funding to community crime prevention programs nearly in half." Background image shows a sign at the protest reading "Too many prisons, not enough justice"
Text reading "Last time Labor rushed through bail laws in 2018, they doubled the number of First Nations women in Victoria’s prisons, and contributed to the death in custody of Veronica Nelson. The Coronial inquest into Veronica’s death labelled Victoria’s bail laws a “complete and unmitigated disaster” and led to some improvements in 2023 - now Labor is tearing up those improvements." Background image shows Katherine Copsey MP speaking at the rally on the steps.
Text reading "First Nations and legal organisations have called on the Premier to withdraw these bail changes. Instead, they want to see the implementation of Poccum’s Law - a blueprint for bail reform that came from the loved ones of Veronica Nelson, following her death in custody. It would ensure bail hearings are fair, remand is only used as a last resort, and what happened to Veronica never happens again. The Greens will keep fighting for Poccum’s Law" Background image showing a young Indigenous man speaking at the rally.
Labor’s panicked attempts to look “tough” won’t improve community safety. Instead they should be funding early intervention programs, and implementing #PoccumsLaw.
#JusticeForVeronica #EndIndigenousDeathsInCustody
