Criminal Justice System Videos

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police apologises to First Peoples

On behalf of Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton APM apologised “unreservedly” to First Peoples for police actions since colonisation and continuing to the present day.

In a hearing at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the Chief Commissioner said that “as a result of systemic racism, racist attitudes and discriminatory policies of police,’ injustices had “gone undetected, unchecked and unpunished.”

He stated that this injustice had caused “significant harm across generations of Aboriginal families.” Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Professor Eleanor Bourke AM, responded: “Your apology must bring real change.”

Recent Videos

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“Prisons are not a place where women can heal.”

Mar 11, 2025
Criminal justice system
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Yoorrook for Justice: Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems

Oct 10, 2023
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Recommendations: Yoorook Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems

Oct 10, 2023
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Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett questions the Minister for Police about accountability for deaths in custody

Jun 6, 2023
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Tony McAvoy SC questions the Minister for Police about injustices experienced by First Peoples at the hands of police

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system
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Minister for Police the Hon. Anthony Carbines MP speaks to the lingering colonialism within state organisations

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system
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Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police speaks about independent police oversight

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system
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Yoorrook hears about increasing number of First Peoples on remand

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system
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Yoorrook hearings investigate systemic racism in Victoria’s criminal justice system

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system
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“I understand this uniform can be a symbol of fear.” – Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton

Jun 6, 2023
Criminal justice system

More Criminal Justice System Videos

For First Peoples, the criminal justice system has long been a site of systemic injustice. Learn more about the injustices in the criminal justice system by watching the videos below.

You can also view evidence, witness statements and transcripts from the criminal justice system hearings.

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“Prisons are not a place where women can heal.”

Djirra reports that “at least 24% of the women Djirra supported in 2023 had been misidentified as perpetrators of violence by Police. Misidentification leads to criminalisation, incarceration, and is a major contributor to the removal of our children.
Mar 11, 2025
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Yoorrook for Justice: Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems

Following a 12-month inquiry, the ‘Yoorrook for Justice: Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems’ details extensive systemic injustice, racism, discriminatory laws and policy failures that have, and continue to, cause harm to First Peoples. The report and a full list of recommendations can be found here: www.yoorrookforjustice.org.au
Oct 10, 2023
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Recommendations: Yoorook Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems

Yoorrook for Justice: Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems makes 46 recommendations for reform, including clarifying and strengthening the charter of human rights and responsibilities act. The report and a full list of recommendations can be found here: www.yoorrookforjustice.org.au
Oct 10, 2023
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Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police apologises to First Peoples

On behalf of Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton APM apologised “unreservedly” to First Peoples for police actions since colonisation and continuing to the present day. In a hearing at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the Chief Commissioner said that “as a result of systemic racism, racist attitudes and discriminatory policies of police,’ injustices had “gone undetected, unchecked and unpunished.” He
Jun 6, 2023
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Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett questions the Minister for Police about accountability for deaths in custody

Since this Yoorrook hearing less than two weeks ago, another First Peoples man has died in custody in Victoria. There have now been 34 deaths in custody in Victoria since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Each of those people was loved by their family, friends and community. They are deeply missed. During questioning by Commissioner Travis
Jun 6, 2023
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Tony McAvoy SC questions the Minister for Police about injustices experienced by First Peoples at the hands of police

Yoorrook Senior Counsel Assisting and proud Wirdi man Tony McAvoy SC questioned Victoria’s Minister for Police, the Hon. Anthony Carbines MP, in hearings this month about injustices experienced by First Peoples at the hands of police. Minister Carbines accepted that, for many Aboriginal people, their experience of policing is one in which they are the subject of racial profiling and
Jun 6, 2023
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Minister for Police the Hon. Anthony Carbines MP speaks to the lingering colonialism within state organisations

Watch the Minister for Police the Hon. Anthony Carbines MP speak about the challenges of tackling racial discrimination and police profiling of Aboriginal people in Victoria.
Jun 6, 2023
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Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police speaks about independent police oversight

“Police investigating police especially in areas of Aboriginality – I don’t see how we will ever be able to gain the confidence of the Aboriginal community and the faith in the system” Listen to Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton APM discuss what has led him to move positions on independent police oversight at a hearing of the Yoorrook
Jun 6, 2023
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Yoorrook hears about increasing number of First Peoples on remand

In the year ending 2022, 89% of First Peoples in prison in Victoria were on remand, meaning they in custody but unsentenced. Yoorrook heard that many of those on remand may not have received a custodial sentence if found guilty. Most were refused bail due to changes to Victorian bail laws in 2018, which meant repeat non-violent offenders had to
Jun 6, 2023
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Yoorrook hearings investigate systemic racism in Victoria’s criminal justice system

At a Yoorrook hearing, Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Kate Houghton, acknowledged that one of the primary drivers of overrepresentation of First Peoples in the criminal justice system is the existence of systemic racism.
Jun 6, 2023
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“I understand this uniform can be a symbol of fear.” – Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton

“I understand this uniform can be a symbol of fear… I am deeply and truly sorry for this impact.” Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton APM told Yoorrook Commissioners in a hearing on May 8, 2023. Chief Commissioner Patton apologised to First Peoples in what he described as a “watershed moment.”
Jun 6, 2023

Other Topics

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Walk for Truth

Yoorrook Justice Commission invites you to be part of the Walk for Truth from Portland to Parliament.
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History

Shed light on and learn the “hidden truth” of the colonisation of Victoria.
Close up hands performing a smoking ceremony at a Welcome to Country.

Housing Videos

Yoorrook heard how today’s housing crisis stems from colonisation. Darren Smith, from Aboriginal Housing Victoria, said “you can draw a line”. Learn more.
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Health Videos

Commissioners heard extensive evidence of past and ongoing racism and discrimination within Victoria’s health services, both for individuals requiring health care and Aboriginal organisations providing care. Learn more.
Aunty Jill Gallagher and Sheree Lowe discuss the health system in the Yoorrook hearing room.

Social Justice Videos

Watch what Yoorrook has heard about systemic injustice experienced by First Peoples in Victoria in relation to health, education, housing and economic life.
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Land Injustice videos

In yarns & submissions, First Peoples are telling Yoorrook about the importance of land, sky & water and the impact of colonisation. Hear what they have to say.
Jedah wearing Aboriginal Body Art outdoors infront of a fire put while discussing how the Victorian education system be improved for First Peoples

Education videos

Yoorrook is looking into the barriers First Peoples face in accessing all levels of education, as well as the racism many still endure within the system. Now is the time to have your say by making a submission.
Yoorrook For Justice: Report into Victorias child protection and criminal justice systems

Yoorrook for Justice

The Yoorrook for Justice report is the culmination of Yoorrook’s year-long inquiry into Victoria’s child protection and criminal justice systems.
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Yoorrook Events

The Yoorrook NAIDOC events included an Elders Panel that featured Yoorrook Chair Aunty Eleanor Bourke and Uncle Kevin Coombs.