The Yoorrook Justice Commission is informing the shape of our shared future
Australia’s first formal truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission is helping us understand our shared history from the perspective of First Peoples. Victoria’s Treaty process will be informed by the Commission’s findings and recommendations.
Yoorrook for Justice contained 46 recommendations for far-reaching reforms. After careful consideration, the government accepted 28, either in-principle or in full, and committed to further considering 15 more in its initial response. With the release of this progress report, the government is upgrading to 30 recommendations accepted in full or in principle, with 13 recommendations under further consideration.
This progress report outlines the actions the Victorian Government is taking in response to the Commission’s interim report, Yoorrook for Justice.
The Victorian Government has progressed a range of reforms in the criminal justice system to improve outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians, including decriminalising public drunkenness and passing the Bail Amendment Act 2023 to reduce unnecessary remand for low-level offending.
Other reforms are underway to put First Peoples-led decision making at the heart of the child protection and family services system. This has been backed by the largest ever single investment – $140 million – in the 2023/24 Victorian Budget. This investment aims to reduce the over-representation of First Nations children in the child protection and care system by investing in Aboriginal-led family services, early intervention, and the expansion of the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care program.
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