Victorian Bar Statement in respect of Inquest into the passing of Veronica Nelson

The Coroner made a number of important recommendations to various persons, organisations and the Victorian Government. This includes a recommendation to the Legal Services Board and Commissioner and the Victorian Bar to “consider including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training as a mandatory requirement of continuing professional development for practising legal practitioners”.² The Victorian Bar will expeditiously consider this recommendation.

The Coroner’s decision addresses the current bail regime in Victoria. His Honour found that some of the sections of the Bail Act 1977 (Vic) were incompatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.³ The Coroner recommended that there be “an urgent review be conducted of the Bail Act with a view to repealing any provision that having a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people” and that particular provisions be repealed.⁴

The Victorian Bar stands ready to assist and participate in the Government’s review process for the Bail Act and other matters raised by the Coroner’s recommendations.

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76) https://www.13yarn.org.au.

¹ Finding into the Passing of Veronica Nelson (COR 2000 0021) delivered on 30 January 2023 at [831].

² Finding into the Passing of Veronica Nelson (COR 2000 0021) delivered on 30 January 2023 at Appendix C, Recommendation 17.

³ Finding into the Passing of Veronica Nelson (COR 2000 0021) delivered on 30 January 2023 at [390].

⁴ Finding into the Passing of Veronica Nelson (COR 2000 0021) delivered on 30 January 2023 at Appendix C, recommendations 3 and