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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria
@libertyvictoria.bsky.social
100 followers 58 following 170 posts
Liberty Victoria (The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties). We work to protect and promote civil liberties and human rights. Based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. libertyvictoria.org.au
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · Jul 30
We are proud to announce that the recipient of this year’s Liberty Victoria Voltaire Human Rights award is Dr Mohammed Mustafa.
He is an English-Australian emergency physician trainee, humanitarian, and former international athlete of Palestinian heritage.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
The politicisation of the bail system in Victoria has been a disgrace. It does us all a disservice. It makes us less safe.

Read our full media release here:https://libertyvictoria.org.au/liberty-victoria-media-release-on-bail/
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
Do we really want a justice system where people accused of criminal offences are regularly locked up for extended periods before trial in circumstances where they are not an unacceptable risk of failing to appear, committing a serious offence or to community safety?
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
We are all entitled to the presumption of innocence. Our political leaders, across the political spectrum, should take pause to consider what it means to lock people up when they have not had their day in court.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
Further, a person must be refused bail if, amongst other things, they would “endanger the safety or welfare of any other person, whether by committing an offence that has that effect or by any other means”.
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
It makes us all less safe in the long run.
It is important to recognise that we already have a bail system where “Parliament recognises the overarching importance of maximising, to the greatest extent possible, the safety of the community and persons affected by crime”.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
This means that more people are being held in prisons who have been charged, but who have not been found guilty, of any offence.
We know that prisons are criminogenic. That means that putting a person, including a child, in custody makes it more likely that they will offend.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 6h
The latest political attack on Victoria’s bail system is misguided and dangerous.

The reality is that, since the recent changes to the bail system were introduced, there has been an explosion of prisoners who have been remanded in custody.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 7d
libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
Please join us to celebrate at the Voltaire Awards Dinner on November 14th, 2025. Book here: trybooking.com/DAMXD
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Liberty Victoria's Voltaire Human Rights Awards Dinner 2025
Liberty Victoria's Voltaire Human Rights Awards Dinner 2025, a celebration of free speech
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
We look forward to hearing further from Sarah Schwartz at our Voltaire Awards Dinner on 14 November, as she has generously offered to share her reflections on Uncle Percy and the issues for which he fought so hard.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
The Allan Government has wound back reforms made after Veronica's and Uncle Percy's death, a mockery to them both.
In recognising Uncle Percy we also recognise the continuing injustice of the disproportionate rates of incarceration of the indigenous people of Australia.
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
In the aftermath of Veronica's passing, Uncle Percy Lovett fought tirelessly for Poccum's Law until his passing last year. Uncle Percy sat in Court every day of the inquest into Veronica's passing and was relentless in his fight for justice for Veronica.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
It is likely that Veronica would be alive today if Victoria had a bail system that properly protected human rights, including the rights of First Nations Peoples.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
Veronica Nelson was a Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman who was put in prison for minor shop lifting related charges because of Victoria’s failed bail laws.
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 17d
We are honoured to announce the 2025 Liberty Victoria Empty Chair Award will be dedicated to the late Uncle Percy Lovett, in recognition of his fight to pass Poccum’s Law and seek justice in relation to the death in custody of Veronica Nelson.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
· Immediately cease exporting to Israel any equipment that can be used for military purposes.
Read our full press release here: libertyvictoria.org.au/wp-content/u...
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libertyvictoria.org.au
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
The Australian Government must immediately move to:
· Expand sanctions against members of Israel’s Government identified within the report as inciting the commission of genocide;
· Support banning Israel from international sporting events; and
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
We must, as a community, decide whether we stand silent in the face of a finding of genocide and risk being complicit, or whether we support the international rules-based order.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
We must never forget that the UN human rights system was forged after the horrors of the Holocaust to ensure that it was never repeated. We now have reached the unthinkable position where we are witnessing a genocide in real time.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
The Australian Government is a party to the 1948 Convention. Australia has a proud history as a champion of international human rights law, as a co-drafter of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
It concluded that Israel has committed four of the five acts which are defined as genocidal acts in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
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Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 20d
In 2023, the United Nations Human Rights Council established a Commission of Inquiry into Israel’s actions in Gaza.
On 16 September 2025, the Commission delivered its report, determining that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza.
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 21d
Read our full press release here: libertyvictoria.org.au/wp-content/u...
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libertyvictoria.org.au
libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 21d
The Australian Government must immediately move to:
· Expand sanctions against members of Israel’s Government identified within the report as inciting the commission of genocide; and
· Support banning Israel from international sporting events.
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libertyvictoria.bsky.social
Liberty Victoria @libertyvictoria.bsky.social · 21d
We must, as a community, decide whether we stand silent in the face of a finding of genocide and risk being complicit, or whether we support the international rules-based order.
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