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In December 2009 the government introduced new street laws. The Summary Offences and Control of Weapons Acts Amendment Act 2009 gave police new powers to move people on, to stop and search, and charge people with a new disorderly conduct offence and give on the spot fines starting at $234.
Then in late May 2010 the Government introduced to Parliament further changes to the Control of Weapons Act including:
1. removing the requirement for an independent third person to assist young people or people with intellectual disabilities in relation to unplanned searches – now they just need another police officer to be present.
2. penalty of 25 penalty units for a young person purchasing a prohibited weapon;
3. removing the requirements for police to maintain records of the people searched (other than for strip searches), further clouding the already lacklastre accountability measures;
4. only requiring designation of searches for ‘events’ – now train stations etc will be subject to undesignated ‘surprise’ searches; and
5. in determining the ‘likelihood’ of violence occurring, the test is now that the “likelihood is less than ‘more likely than not’.” That means, an act of violence occurring is likely, even when it probably won’t happen.
These amendments were passed in Parliament in early August and will come into effect over the next 6 months. We will keep you posted.
In the meantime check out our fact sheet for an overview of the laws (as of May 2010), our media release and letter to politicians opposing the proposed further amendments.
Smart Justice seeks to enhance the safety of all Victorians. It is a project supported by a range of non-profit organisations seeking to promote community understanding around evidence-based, effective and human rights compliant criminal justice policies. In short, Smart Justice is about community safety – the smart way.
Smart Justice is lead by the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) Inc, the peak body for Victoria’s 51 community legal centres. Smart Justice was made possible with funding support from the Victoria Law Foundation and the Reichstein Foundation.
Smart justice solutions to knife carrying should deal with the causes of weapon carrying through early intervention and education campaigns – not through harsh law enforcement and punishment and breaching human rights.
Check out the various factsheets at
Under legislation and government policy, all foster children ‘aging-out’ of care have the right to a Leaving Care Plan. This plan is meant to prepare young people for leaving out of home care and becoming independent.
However in a recent survey by CREATE Foundation, over 63%1 of young people surveyed do not have a leaving care plan. Without any preparation for leaving care, young people may not know about their basic entitlements and are at higher risk of experiencing homelessness and unemployment.
CREATE believes that a fresh approach is needed if we are to see a difference. They have implemented the ‘What’s the Plan?’, an important campaign to inform foster carers, case workers and young people about the importance of this plan.
“Our aim is to empower young people by informing them of the benefits of a leaving care plan; how to get one; what makes a good plan; and who to contact should they have difficulty accessing one,” states Jacqui Reed, Chief Executive Officer, CREATE Foundation.
Campaign Respect has been started up by a group of young people here at Youthlaw.
Those of us who started the campaign are sick of being treated disrespectfully by Authorised Officers (ticket inspectors) because we are young people.
It’s a grassroots campaign using info and digital activism to mobilise young people, hear your stories and bring about cultural, social and political change in the way ticket inspectors interact with young people.
To find out more check out:
Check out our series of updated fact sheets on getting a loan, mobile phones, credit card and keeping out of debt.
What do I do when...? is a resource for anyone who works with young people aged 12-25. It details areas of the law that youth workers may come across in their work with young people and provides answers to common legal questions.
Download What do I do when...? [435kb PDF]
