Warning: This page contains the name and image of an Aboriginal teenager who has died. MEDIA ALERT: 36 years after mysterious death, family of Indigenous teen to seek answers at coronial inquest Coronial inquest into death of Mark Anthony Haines to begin at Tamworth Courthouse on Monday 8th April 2024; scheduled to run for two weeks Smoking ceremony and media conference will be...

JOINT STATEMENT from NATSILS (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services) Thursday 28 March 2024 Responding to the announcement of a new youth curfew in Alice Springs, continued fearmongering and even threats of a new “intervention”, the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) says state governments around Australia have proven themselves incapable of a basic...

Tuesday 26 March 2024 Warning: This page contains the name and image of an Aboriginal man who died in an interaction with police, including details of how he died. The Deputy State Coroner has delivered findings into the death of Brandon Trevor James Rich, a proud Wiradjuri man who was just 29 when he died in a struggle with police. Magistrate Harriet...

MEDIA RELEASE Friday 22 March 2024 NSW Labor lawyers and senior leaders, including Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne are furious over the new laws that will put more children in jail. "The Aboriginal Legal Service welcomes the advocacy of Labor lawyers who know these new laws will be a disaster for regional NSW and for the Labor Party. This internal opposition shows...

MEDIA RELEASE Friday 22 March 2024 The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT says that the passage of dangerous youth justice laws through the NSW Parliament last night marks the beginning of a major campaign that will not end until the laws are scrapped.  “We are drawing a line in the sand. We cannot accept an Australia that puts children in jail instead of...

18 March 2024 We the undersigned are legal practitioners, community workers and academics working across the fields of law, criminology, social sciences and Indigenous studies, who hold grave concerns about the proposed laws that will make it harder for young people aged 14-17 to be released on bail for certain offences.  We support the Premier’s goal to improve community safety and wellbeing...

17 March 2024 Dear Premier Minns, Don't turn your back on Closing the Gap. Throwing more children in jail will make crime worse in regional communities, not better. Throwing more children in jail will lead to horrific outcomes for communities, families and those children, compounding abuse and trauma.  Throwing more children in jail will cause unspeakable damage to Closing The Gap and...

Published in the Sunday Telegraph 17 March 2024 Stopping offending the key to kids' justice Youth justice has once again become a politicised issue. Tensions run high when we discuss the best way to keep children and the community safe. In situations like these, when differing opinions about the best strategy create conflict, it’s helpful to go back to the principles we...

14 March 2024 The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) is inviting community to apply for membership – the first step towards becoming a director and serving on the organisation’s board. “As one of Australia’s first Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, the ALS is owned and governed by the communities we serve. Now it’s time to elect the representatives for the next three years,”...