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.
Demand for Accountability and Action from South Australia’s Attorney-General
The National Network call upon South Australia's Attorney-General, Kyam Maher, to face the children his laws are locking up. ‘It is unacceptable for him to ignore the voices of young people suffering under a brutal colonial legal system that cages Aboriginal children...
Senate Youth Justice Inquiry: National Network responds to the announcement of yet another parliamentary inquiry
The National Network welcomes Government attention on what is undeniably one of Australia’s national shames – the so-called ‘youth justice’ system. However, the announcement of yet another Senate inquiry leaves us feeling tired and cynical. ‘We have seen these...
World Suicide Prevention Day – Prisons Continue to Kill with Impunity
As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day, we must confront the devastating reality that suicide remains a significant cause of death in prison. Of the 63 deaths in prison custody in 2021–22 where the manner of death was recorded, one-quarter (25%) were deaths from...
Immediate Action Needed in the Domestic Violence Sector
Amid growing divisions in the domestic and family violence sector about the best way forward, the National Network stands ready with solutions that have long been ignored but remain vital. ‘While debate continues between advocates about strategies, we remain focused...
Acknowledging the Tasmanian Government’s decision to not build a new prison, but rejecting the ‘Carceral Creep’
While the National Network applaud the Tasmanian government’s recent decision not to build a new prison in the north of the state, we remain deeply concerned by the expansion of carceral systems into our homes and communities. ‘The shift from traditional prisons to...
Another day, another call for a new prison build: It’s Time to Break Free from the Prison Industrial Complex
In the face of growing calls for the construction of a new prison in Mount Isa, the National Network are once again confronted by the limitations of community leader’s imagination when it comes to addressing complex social challenges. ‘Proposals like new prison builds...
Acknowledging the National Cabinet’s $4.7 Billion Family Violence Services Plan
The National Network welcome the National Cabinet's recent announcement of a $4.7 billion investment in family violence services, a critical and much-needed step in addressing the devastating impact of domestic, family, and sexual violence across this country. This...
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Report Calls for Transition to Voluntary Income Management—A Step Forward, but Not Enough
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has handed down their Inquiry report into Compulsory Income Management, calling for a transition from compulsory income management to a voluntary system. While this is a step in the right direction, the National...
Condemnation of Queensland LNP’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ Policy: A Targeted Attack on First Nations Children
The National Network strongly condemns the Queensland Liberal National Party’s (LNP) recent announcement of the ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ policy, a key part of their ‘Making Our Community Safer’ plan for the upcoming Queensland elections. ‘This policy purports to make...
How Many More Children’s Lives Must Be Lost Before We Say Enough?
The tragic death of a 17-year-old boy at WA’s Banksia Hill children’s prison marks yet another heartbreaking and preventable loss of life within our nation’s prison system. This is the second death of a child in custody in Western Australia within a year, and the...
National Network Condemns Incoming NT Government’s Retrogressive Law and Order Proposals: ‘I can’t breathe’
The National Network strongly condemns the incoming Northern Territory (NT) Government's proposed law and order changes, which include lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 12 years to 10. ‘This move represents a significant retrograde step in justice...
Northern Territory Election: A Dangerous Lack of Choices for Voters
As the Northern Territory approaches its upcoming election this weekend, voters are confronted with an alarming lack of viable choices. Both Territory Labor and the Country Liberal Party (CLP) have presented campaign promises that are not only retrograde but also pose...
National Network Expresses Disappointment in Senate Inquiry Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
The National Network expresses profound disappointment, though not surprise, at the report handed down by the Senate Committee in the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. ‘The recommendations outlined in the report fall far short of what is needed to...
National Network Urges Minister for NDIS to Reject Discriminatory Amendment
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (The National Network) has written an urgent letter to Minister Bill Shorten, the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), urging him to reject the Liberal National...
Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: A Call for Justice and Action
The Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women will hand down its findings tomorrow and should mark a critical moment in addressing a crisis that has long been ignored by this country and its lawmakers. ‘Indigenous women in this country don't simply go...