Yoorrook calls hearing regarding government non-compliance

The Yoorrook Justice Commission has called a directions hearing at 10am on Monday March 27 regarding the Victorian Government’s non-compliance with the Commission’s orders to produce evidence.

The hearing has been scheduled after the Victorian Government failed to meet deadlines to produce evidence as directed by Yoorrook. It will address the State’s failure to produce the information required, and the implications for Yoorrook’s work. At this hearing, the State will be asked to explain why documents in its possession have not been provided to Yoorrook.

The directions hearing will be held at Level 9/54 Wellington Street, Collingwood. It will open to the public, including the media, and can also be viewed via livestream on the Yoorrook website.

Yoorrook is the first formal truth telling inquiry into past and ongoing injustice against First Peoples in Victoria. Established as a Royal Commission, Yoorrook has powers to compel people to produce documents and to attend hearings and give evidence. It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with a notice to produce documents without a reasonable excuse.

Senior bureaucrats had been scheduled to give evidence to Yoorrook during a full week of hearings commencing Monday 27 March as part of Yoorrook’s inquiry into systemic injustice experienced by First Peoples in Victoria’s criminal justice and child protection systems.

The Commission previously held public hearings in December 2022 and March 2023 in which Community members, experts and leaders gave evidence on the impact of injustice within the criminal justice and child protection systems on First Peoples.

Under its Letters Patent, Yoorrook is required to produce its next report by 30 June 2023.

ENDS

Media enquiries: Evan Schuurman, 0408 847 385, [email protected].