Press Releases
The National Network writes media releases in response to current affairs and our members speak at events, protests, conferences, panels and appear in mainstream media.
Magill allegations confirm what children have told us for decades: detention is not safe
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls condemns the abuse of children confined in children’s prison and government institutions, following the arrest of a 73-year-old man over alleged historical sexual offences involving 29...
THESE ARE QUEENSLAND’S CHILDREN: NATIONAL NETWORK CONDEMNS THREAT TO SEND 17-YEAR-OLDS BACK TO ADULT PRISONS
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls unequivocally condemns the Queensland Government’s refusal to rule out sending 17-year-old children back into adult prisons. We know what happens inside adult prisons. We have lived it. We...
National Network stands in solidarity with Yiŋiya Guyula: “The NT Government should be ashamed”
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls stands in deep solidarity with Yiŋiya Guyula MLA following his decision to step down as the Member for Mulka after a decade of extraordinary leadership, resistance and service to his...
We Stand with the Disability Community: People Are Not a Budget Problem
The National Network of Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women & Girls stands in solidarity with disabled people, their families, carers, advocates and communities following the passage of sweeping changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. ‘We...
YOU CANNOT INCARCERATE YOUR WAY TO SAFETY: NATIONAL NETWORK CONDEMNS NT GOVERNMENT’S MASSIVE PRISON EXPANSION
The National Network of Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women & Girls condemns the Northern Territory Government’s announcement that it will build another 1,400 prison beds at Holtze, including a 1,200-bed privately operated men’s remand and intake prison...
National Network flatly rejects return of punitive welfare penalties
The National Network of Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women & Girls stands with anti-poverty, legal and social justice organisations opposing the Albanese Government’s plans to restart punitive welfare penalties under the Targeted Compliance Framework....
VICTORIA MUST NOT LEGISLATE AWAY THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN PRISON
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls condemns the Victorian Government’s move to weaken the right of people in prison to at least one hour of open air every day, describing the proposal as abhorrent, sadistic and a flagrant...
National Network Stands with Women Vindicated Following Adelaide Women’s Prison Verdict
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls acknowledges today's District Court verdict finding a former Adelaide Women's Prison maintenance officer guilty of rape and indecent assault against a woman imprisoned at the Adelaide...
National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls Calls for Full Transparency Following Death in Custody at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls expresses its profound sorrow following the reported death of an 18-year-old woman in custody at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) on Monday, 27 July 2026. Every death in custody is a...
AUSTRALIA’S GROWING STATE GUN CULTURE SHOULD ALARM US ALL
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls is deeply alarmed by the accelerating militarisation of state agencies across Australia, with governments increasingly responding to complex social issues not with housing, healthcare or...
Governments Are Criminalising Poverty Again. We Beat It Once. We’ll Fight It Again.
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls condemns the Victorian Government's refusal to permanently abolish the imprisonment of people for unpaid fines, warning that allowing thousands of people to once again face imprisonment...
Children Are Not a Testing Ground for Surveillance Technologies
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls condemns proposals to use artificial intelligence chatbots and automated monitoring systems to surveil children's online activity and flag young people to authorities based on algorithmic...
South Australian Budget Invests in Surveillance, Not Solutions
The South Australian Government's latest budget sends a clear message: there is always money for policing, surveillance and punishment, but never enough for housing, community support or addressing the causes of poverty. The Government has announced $11.3 million for...
National Network Condemns NT Government’s “Barbaric” Attack on Children
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls has condemned the Northern Territory Government’s proposed “youth justice” laws as a violent and deliberate escalation of state harm against children, particularly Aboriginal children....
NSW Prisons Hit Record High Under Minns Labor as Families Cut Off from Loved Ones
The prison population in New South Wales has exploded to 14,070 people, the highest in the state’s history, under the Minns Labor Government, with advocates warning the system is collapsing under the weight of punitive policy, mass remand, and institutional neglect....