The Victorian Government has rejected key recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission's inquiry into child protection and criminal justice systems.

The state government's stance, particularly its unwillingness to stop the jailing of children under 16, has sparked disappointment among commissioners and concern among advocates for First Peoples' rights.

The inquiry, led by a First Peoples-driven truth-telling commission, put forward 46 recommendations aimed at overhauling Victoria's child protection and criminal justice frameworks to address systemic racism and human rights abuses against First Peoples. 

Of these, the government has only fully endorsed four recommendations and given “in-principle” support to another 24, leaving key proposals, including the immediate raise in the criminal age of responsibility to 14 and significant bail reforms, unaccepted.

“Given the weight of evidence... commissioners are disappointed by the government's decision not to support three recommendations,” commission chair and esteemed elder Eleanor Bourke said.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins lauded the commission's work as “globally groundbreaking”, acknowledging the depth it added to the government's understanding of discrimination embedded in its policies and practices.

However, the government's response has been met with criticism for its lack of detail and commitment, particularly towards the transformative changes recommended by the inquiry. “It reads like it was slapped together overnight,” said Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. 

Ngarra Murray, co-chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, echoed these sentiments, stressing the impact of “unfair laws and policing practices” on Aboriginal communities and expressing frustration over the government's timeline for raising the criminal age of responsibility.

The full report is accessible here.