Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Neo-Nazi Attacks at Camp Sovereignty (1 September 2025)
A Call for Hate Crime Investigation
The Aboriginal Justice Caucus Calls on Victoria Police to Investigate the Violent Neo-Nazi Attack on Camp Sovereignty as a Hate Crime
We demand immediate action. There must be real consequences.
The Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC) is outraged by the violent attack on Camp Sovereignty by neo-Nazis on Sunday, 31 August 2025.
This was no random act of violence. This was a calculated and coordinated attack by a far-right extremist neo-Nazi group. People were assaulted. Aboriginal people, particularly women, were specifically targeted. A sacred fire was attempted to be destroyed, and our flag was torn down, trampled, and disrespected.
This was a hate crime.
Camp Sovereignty is a peaceful place for the community to gather, yarn, and reflect. It stands on the site of the resting place for the repatriated remains of 38 Aboriginal community members.
To attack it - is to attack the very existence of our communities.
The AJC demands immediate action. We demand a full investigation, and those responsible must be held accountable. This was racially motivated violence, and it must be treated as a hate crime. No more excuses. There must be real consequences.
Far-right extremism is growing, and it’s putting our communities at risk. Aboriginal people deserve to be safe on our land. We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms.
We stand firmly with the Camp Sovereignty community, our community, and everyone affected by this attack.
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
Quotes Attributable to Aunty Marion Hansen and Chris Harrison, Co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus:
“As Co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, we categorically reject tranche two of the bail amendments. These laws are already disproportionately denying bail to Aboriginal people, including children, and resulting in increased and unnecessary detention.
This is a failure of justice and a breach of human rights.
The Victorian Government cannot claim to uphold self-determination or honour the Aboriginal Justice Agreement while advancing policies that increase incarceration and risk further preventable deaths in custody. The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody set clear warnings that must be heeded. The impacts of tranche one are evident. Proceeding with tranche two is unjustifiable.
We call on the government to immediately halt tranche two, engage in genuine partnership with Aboriginal communities, and invest in culturally safe, evidence-based solutions that address the root causes of offending. Anything less undermines the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.”
Quotes Attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service:
“We are asking the government to not proceed with the Tranche two of the bail amendments. With legal and corrections systems in a state of crisis, the proposed amendments represent a tragedy waiting to happen. As the only Aboriginal Legal Service in Victoria representing Aboriginal children, young people and adults in bail applications we are seeing firsthand the impact of Tranche One, and it is frightening. 34 years on from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and it appears the government has learnt nothing. It feels like we are now just waiting; waiting for yet another preventable death in custody, waiting for the government to listen to us and invest in community led, self-determined solutions.
We are done waiting.
Our message is clear – it is fundamentally irresponsible to progress with Tranche two. The risk to human life is too high. These dangerous amendments will fail to meet the government’s intentions around community safety because punitive, regressive policies do not work. Instead, they will cause significant harm to our community as we see legal and corrections systems pushed to breaking point.”
Quotes Attributable to Bonnie Dukakis, CEO of the Koorie Youth Council:
“Where is the evidence that this kind of punitive approach works? Where is the investment in self-determined, culturally safe and trauma-informed, preventative and early intervention supports for our young people? We have the solutions, government just need to listen to and invest in us, then we will be able to achieve a shared vision of a safe and just society for all Victorians.”
Quotes Attributable to Louisa Gibbs, CEO of the Federation of Community Legal Centres:
“The proposed “Two Strike” bail test risks locking up and over-crowding people into prisons for minor and non-violent behaviour, before they’ve been found guilty. When prison systems are under pressure, the lives and wellbeing of the human beings locked up are put at risk. The Victorian Government has the power to press pause, consult and make evidence-based and safe decisions.”
“Making bail tougher by removing judicial discretion is not the answer. The reality is that keeping people incarcerated on remand without rehabilitation or access to social services sets up a harmful and costly cycle of recidivism. To make our communities safer, governments need to invest in early intervention and prevention – through investing in health, education and social services that support our communities to thrive.”
Quotes Attributable to Caitlin Reiger, CEO of the Human Rights Law Centre:
“Bail saves lives. Victoria’s regressive bail laws are already driving up the number of people in prison and are incompatible with our Charter of Human Rights. The proposed laws undermine everyone’s basic right to liberty, including the right for a person awaiting trial not to be automatically detained in custody, and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“The Allan Government should not proceed with the second tranche of dangerous bail laws – they are a tragedy waiting to happen. The Allan Government should instead implement Poccum’s Law in full to make Victoria’s bail laws safer and fairer for everyone.”