Yoorrook “beyond disappointed” by lack of Victorian Government action on justice and child protection recommendations

The Yoorrook Justice Commission is beyond disappointed at the lack of action shown in the Victorian Government Implementation Progress Report: Yoorrook For Justice released on Friday.

The Progress Report provides an update on the Government’s response to the 46 recommendations made in the Yoorrook for Justice report in September 2023. This followed a year-long inquiry into Victoria’s child protection and criminal justice systems.

More than a year after Yoorrook for Justice was delivered, the Government has not decided its position on more than a quarter of recommendations.

According to the Progress Report, of 46 recommendations, the Victorian Government now supports just six recommendations, up from four. Twenty-four remain ‘supported in principle’, 13 are ‘under consideration’ and three are ‘not supported’.

Yoorrook is concerned that many of the supported recommendations show limited progress. Either they are still in scoping or planning stages, or are awaiting detailed reports to show their level of delivery.

It is also concerned there appears to have been little engagement with First Peoples stakeholders in developing responses, despite the Government’s talk of self-determination.

Yoorrook is now considering calling Accountability Hearings in early 2025 to bring Government Ministers back before Yoorrook Commissioners.

Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Professor Eleanor Bourke said:

“Commissioners are beyond disappointed by the lack of action from Government outlined in this Implementation Progress Report. It doesn’t show nearly enough implementation or nearly enough progress.

“The Government has acknowledged that the injustices against First Peoples identified in Yoorrook for Justice are ongoing and require urgent action. There is very little sense of urgency conveyed in this Progress Report.”

“Yoorrook has heard 16 apologies from Government representatives for the systemic harm caused by the state to First Peoples, and has heard repeated commitments to do better.

“I have said this before: for an apology to be truly meaningful, it must be followed by action to address what is being apologised for. We are yet to see this action.

“The report says significant structural and systemic reform takes time. We understand this, but there are a number of recommendations in the report that can be implemented immediately that would make a big difference for First Peoples.

“Commissioners hope the Victorian Government will now bring greater intent and purpose to the upcoming Treaty negotiations, as well as implementation of all of Yoorrook’s current and future recommendations.”