The purpose of these public hearings was for the Yoorrook Justice Commission to question Victorian government ministers, senior bureaucrats and the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police about the administration of the child protection and criminal justice systems.
The focus of the hearings was on systemic injustice against First Peoples within these systems and opportunities for reform.
Scroll down to view videos of the hearings, witness statements and evidence.
On this page
Witness lists
Hearing Witness List 27 April – 15 May 2023
Hearing Videos
May 15, 2023
5H 54M
Child protection and criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental day 10
Witnesses:
Adam Reilly, Executive Director, Wimmera South Region Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Raylene Harradine PSM, Deputy Secretary, Aboriginal Self-Determination and Outcomes, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
The Hon. Enver Erdogan MP
May 12, 2023
4H 24M
Child protection system hearing – Government and departmental day 9
Witnesses:
Commissioner Meena Singh
The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP
May 11, 2023
2H 43M
Child protection system hearing – Government and departmental day 8
Witnesses:
Argiri Alisandratos, Acting Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
May 8, 2023
6H 4M
Criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental day 7
Witnesses:
Shane Patton APM, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
The Hon. Anthony Carbines MP
May 5, 2023
3H 27M
Criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental day 6
Witnesses:
The Hon. Jaclyn Symes MLC
May 3, 2023
5H 2M
Criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental day 5
Witnesses:
Andrea Davidson, Commissioner, Youth Justice
Joshua Smith, Deputy Secretary, Youth Justice, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Larissa Strong, Commissioner, Corrections Victoria
Ryan Phillips, Acting Associate Secretary, Corrections and Justice Services, Department of Justice and Community Safety
May 2, 2023
4H 29M
Criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental day 4
Witnesses:
Dr Tamar Hopkins
Kate Houghton, Secretary, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Marian Chapman, Deputy Secretary, Courts, Civil and Criminal Law, Department of Justice and Community Safety
May 1, 2023
2H 20M
Child protection and criminal justice systems hearing – Government and departmental Day 3
Witnesses:
Eleanor Williams, Executive Director, Strategy and Policy, Department of Health
Katherine Whetton, Deputy Secretary, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health
April 28, 2023
4H 45M
Child protection system hearing – Government and departmental Day 2
Witnesses:
Argiri Alisandratos, Acting Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
April 27, 2023
4H 19M
Child protection system hearing – Government and departmental Day 1
Witnesses:
Argiri Alisandratos, Acting Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Transcripts
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearing 15 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearing 11 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearing 12 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearings 8 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearings 5 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearings 3 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearings 1 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearings 2 May 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearing 28 April 2023
Transcript – Government and Departmental Hearing 27 April 2023
Witnesses and Evidence
Click on a witness to view their evidence
Adam Reilly, Executive Director, Wimmera South Region Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Andrea Davidson, Commissioner, Youth Justice
Argiri Alisandratos, Acting Associate Secretary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Commissioner Meena Singh
Dr Tamar Hopkins
Eleanor Williams, Executive Director, Strategy and Policy, Department of Health
Joshua Smith, Deputy Secretary, Youth Justice, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Kate Houghton, Secretary, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Katherine Whetton, Deputy Secretary, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health
Larissa Strong, Commissioner, Corrections Victoria
Marian Chapman, Deputy Secretary, Courts, Civil and Criminal Law, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Raylene Harradine PSM, Deputy Secretary, Aboriginal Self-Determination and Outcomes, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Ryan Phillips, Acting Associate Secretary, Corrections and Justice Services, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Shane Patton APM, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
The Hon. Anthony Carbines MP
The Hon. Enver Erdogan MP
The Hon. Jaclyn Symes MLC
The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP
Orders
May 15, 2023
Restricted Publication Order, Tender List made 15 May 2023
May 3, 2023