NATSILS Media Release – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services condemn new Federal charity laws that threaten our self-determination and endanger the delivery of much needed legal services for our people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services from around the country have banded together to condemn the Federal Government’s proposed new charity laws that pose a very serious threat to self-determination and risk the functioning of their already severely under-funded and under-resourced services.

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Children continue to be jailed in year since Attorneys-General failed to raise the age

Today marks one year since Australia’s top legal officers failed to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, despite being handed an expert report overwhelmingly recommending that all states and territories and the federal government change laws to keep children out of prison. 

NATSILS Media Release – Punitive new N.T bail laws have already lead to spike in youth custody numbers

NATSILS is devastated but not surprised to learn that the N.T Government’s youth bail reforms are already having harmful and life-altering effects on our kids, with a week-on-week increase in youth in detention reported since the reforms were introduced in May.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: NATSILS welcomes the extension of the Disability Royal Commission

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) welcomes the extension of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. 

Lack of funding for Aboriginal Legal Services further entrenches our people into the justice system, and minimises the national crisis of deaths in custody

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSILS) is concerned that no additional funding for legal assistance services will set back Close the Gap efforts and further see our people disproportionately over-represented in the criminal legal system.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: Family of Wayne Fella Morrison continue their calls for accountability and systemic change as coronial inquest continues

The coronial inquest into the death in custody of Wayne Fella Morrison resumes from 10:00am Tuesday 27th April at the Supreme Court of South Australia, Tarntanyangga/Victoria Square in Adelaide, S.A.

30 years and over 474 Black deaths – Join us on a National Day of Action on Saturday 10 April as we demand urgent action from Government to stop our people dying in custody

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: NATSILS Appoints New Executive Officer, Dr. Hannah McGlade

NATSILS is pleased to announce the appointment of new Executive Officer, Dr. Hannah McGlade. Hannah is a Noongar human rights lawyer from Perth, Western Australia. 

JOINT STATEMENT: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services call for urgent action from Government after three Black deaths in custody in one week

The National peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) have today held a meeting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) representatives from around the country, to call for urgent action from the Prime Minister and State and Territory leaders for an end to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody. 

NATSILS Media Release – NATSILS Appoints New Co-Chair Priscilla Atkins

NATSILS is pleased to announce the appointment of new Chairperson, Priscilla Atkins. Priscilla is an Eastern Arrernte woman from Central Australia, and is the CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), the largest legal service in the Northern Territory; a position she has held since 2007.