Please direct all media enquiries to the ALS media team on 0427 346 017 or [email protected]
‘We cannot fine our way out of the pandemic’: Legal profession calls on NSW Premier to revoke unlawful COVID-19 fines
MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 16 September 2021 Over 100 prominent members of the legal, academic and political profession have endorsed an open letter sent to the NSW Premier, calling on the NSW Government to revoke wrongly issued COVID-19 fines. The letter is a response to concerns among the legal fraternity that COVID-19 fines have been incorrectly issued by police to people undertaking lawful...
READ MOREWhite Police and Black Power | Part 5
10 September 2021 Dr Gary Foley is a founder of the Aboriginal Legal Service. To mark our 50th anniversary, we asked him to share his recollections of the racial justice movement in the 1970s and how the ALS began. Below is Part 5 of his essay, White Police and Black Power: The Origins of the Aboriginal Legal Service. We will publish the...
READ MOREPolice must exercise discretion to avoid further COVID harm to Aboriginal communities
MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 24 August 2021, 3:45 pm The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT (ALS) has issued an urgent demand for NSW Police to use discretion in applying public health orders, warning that excessive fines and charges will only cause further harm to communities. The ALS has received multiple calls from Aboriginal people fined and charged for breaching the public health orders...
READ MOREAboriginal Legal Service condemns Police Commissioner’s carte blanche for officers to “get it wrong”
MEDIA RELEASE Friday 20 August 2021, 1:30 pm The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT (ALS) is deeply concerned by the NSW Police Commissioner’s pledge to not hold officers to account for wrongly applying public health orders. The ALS has previously cautioned against NSW Police using COVID-19 restrictions as an excuse to target Aboriginal people. “When the message from the top is that...
READ MORE‘Operation Stay Home’ must not be an excuse to target Aboriginal people
MEDIA RELEASE Monday 16 August 2021, 1:00 pm As NSW Police commence ‘Operation Stay Home’, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT has raised concerns about over-policing of Aboriginal communities and urged Aboriginal people to seek assistance in dealing with infringement notices. During last year’s COVID lockdown, police handed out the most fines in suburbs with a high Aboriginal population. People living in...
READ MOREALS offices temporarily closed to the public
12 August 2021 All ALS offices are temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 outbreak – but we're still here for you. Our staff are still working. Wherever possible, we are offering assistance over the phone or audio-visual link. We continue to provide representation at courts across NSW and the ACT. As always, if you need legal help, you can call...
READ MOREWhite Police and Black Power | Part 4
6 August 2021 Dr Gary Foley is a founder of the Aboriginal Legal Service. To mark our 50th anniversary, we asked him to share his recollections of the racial justice movement in the 1970s and how the ALS began. Below is Part 4 of his essay, White Police and Black Power: The Origins of the Aboriginal Legal Service. ⫸Missed parts 1, 2...
READ MOREWhite Police and Black Power | Part 3
30 July 2021 Dr Gary Foley is a founder of the Aboriginal Legal Service. To mark our 50th anniversary, we asked him to share his recollections of the racial justice movement in the 1970s and how the ALS began. Below is Part 3 of his essay, White Police and Black Power: The Origins of the Aboriginal Legal Service. ⫷Missed parts 1 and...
READ MOREAboriginal Legal Service honours the legacy of founding member Hal Wootten
MEDIA RELEASE Friday 30 July 2021, 10:00 am The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT says Emeritus Professor Hal Wootten AC QC will be fondly remembered for his insight, compassion, and his great legacy in helping to establish the country’s first Aboriginal legal service. Prof Wootten passed away on Tuesday 27 July at the age of 98. He was a co-founder of the...
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