Today in parliament the Greens met with @vicaboriginallegalservice and Uncle Percy Lovett, to call on the Vic Labor Government to urgently fix Victoria’s broken bail laws.
Uncle Percy is the partner of Veronica Nelson, who died in custody in 2020 after police arrested her on suspicion of shoplifting and she was unnecessarily denied bail.
Veronica, who was a Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman, posed no threat to the community – her alleged offences were minor and non-violent – but she was denied bail because of Victoria’s archaic bail laws.
Two days after her arrest, she died in her cell after being ignored by prison staff as she called out for help and medical attention.
Last month the coronial inquiry into her death handed down its findings. The coroner found that Victoria’s current bail laws were having a discriminatory impact on First Nations people, describing the Vic Labor Government’s changes to the Bail Act in 2018 as ‘a complete and unmitigated disaster’.
The coroner recommended urgent reform of the Bail Act.
There is no time for delay. Quite simply, to prevent further injustice and loss of life we must act now.
Veronica Nelson’s death must be a turning point. #justiceforveronica #enddeathsincustody
