MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 14 July 2022   The Aboriginal Legal Service has welcomed a $28.2 million investment to support new Aboriginal community-led initiatives under the Closing the Gap agreement, but flagged concerns over the inadequacy of funding for its core legal services. The new funding comes as part of the NSW Government’s $400 million Closing the Gap package announced in the 2022-23...

MEDIA ALERT When: 9:30 am, Wednesday 6 July 2022 Where: Lidcombe Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex What: Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame is scheduled to deliver findings for the coronial inquest into the death of Kevin Bugmy at 9:30 am. Roughly 30 minutes after court is adjourned, press statements will be delivered outside the court by Mr Bugmy’s sister, Ms Doreen...

MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 22 June 2022   The Aboriginal Legal Service is shocked by the NSW Government’s attempt to push significant bail amendments through Parliament this week without adequate consultation. These amendments appear short sighted, reactive and will likely have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal communities, causing more Aboriginal adults and children to be imprisoned on remand and derailing progress on Closing...

MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 9 June 2022   The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s decision to stop locking up children under 14 and is calling on the NSW Government to commit to raising the age of legal responsibility to at least 14. While Tasmania has announced moves to raise the minimum age of detention, we must also protect children...

23 May 2022 The NSW Government is currently calling for sector and community responses to its Family Is Culture legislative review discussion paper. Peak Aboriginal organisations AbSec and the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) have jointly published an  alternative briefing paper, outlining our serious concerns with the Government’s framing of the issues and sidelining of community-led reforms. We urge you to consider our...

MEDIA RELEASE Monday 9 May 2022   The Aboriginal Legal Service is saddened to hear of the passing of Judge Peter Zahra and has expressed its condolences to his family. “Judge was a close friend of the Aboriginal Legal Service. He was a mentor, friend and role model to many of our lawyers over the years,” said Karly Warner, CEO of the...

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 3 May 2022, 2:00 pm   The Aboriginal Legal Service has welcomed the findings of a NSW Parliament inquiry into the Coroner’s Court, saying the Court could help prevent future Aboriginal deaths in custody. A parliamentary committee found the current system is overloaded, underfunded and lacks power to create change, making 35 recommendations to improve how the state conducts...

8 April 2022 Douglas 'Mootijah' Shillingsworth died in custody following an ear infection – otitis media, a common health issue in Aboriginal communities. He was 44 years old, a proud Budjiti and Murrawarri man. A coronial inquest heard evidence about Mootijah’s untimely death in early April 2022. The Coroner will deliver findings at a later date. Mootijah leaves behind a large and...

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 5 April 2022, 4:00pm   The Aboriginal Legal Service is calling for a NSW police officer to face criminal charges after a disturbing incident in which he touched the exposed nipple and stomach of an Aboriginal boy. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) found the officer engaged in serious misconduct in his treatment of the 15-year-old boy, who was...