Nerita Waight

Nerita Waight, the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and a Yorta Yorta and Narangiri woman, delves into the implications of new youth justice laws allowing 14-year-olds to face adult trials. She highlights the disproportionate impact on Aboriginal children, emphasizing increased imprisonment and loss of specialized protections. Nerita advocates for a rights-based approach focusing on prevention and health rather than punishment. She also reflects on how these reforms erode trust in government commitments to Treaty, illustrating her points with a powerful case study.