Inner Melbourne Community Legal
@innermelbcl.bsky.social
IMCL promotes access to justice for people experiencing disadvantage through free legal assistance, education, advocacy, law reform and the Police Accountability Project. www.imcl.org.au
Our offices are now closed until Monday, 12 January 2026. If you have an urgent legal matter during that time, contact Victoria Legal Aid or ask if there is a duty lawyer at the relevant court.
December 23, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Our offices are now closed until Monday, 12 January 2026. If you have an urgent legal matter during that time, contact Victoria Legal Aid or ask if there is a duty lawyer at the relevant court.
It's been a massive year at IMCL as we have strived to deliver on our mission to promote social justice and the health and wellbeing of the community through advocacy, education and casework. On Friday, our staff came together to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the achievements of 2025.
December 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
It's been a massive year at IMCL as we have strived to deliver on our mission to promote social justice and the health and wellbeing of the community through advocacy, education and casework. On Friday, our staff came together to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the achievements of 2025.
The Supreme Court will deliver its the decision on the class action appeal against the demolition of the public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington on Friday morning.
December 16, 2025 at 11:32 PM
The Supreme Court will deliver its the decision on the class action appeal against the demolition of the public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington on Friday morning.
Melbourne's CBD and its surrounds have been declared by police as a designated area until 29 May next year. Here is information so you can understand what that means.
December 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Melbourne's CBD and its surrounds have been declared by police as a designated area until 29 May next year. Here is information so you can understand what that means.
Thousands of Victorians have outstanding warrants for imprisonment for unpaid fines they will never be able to afford to pay.
Threats and actual imprisonment for unpaid fines criminalises poverty and punishes people who the system is supposed to protect.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Threats and actual imprisonment for unpaid fines criminalises poverty and punishes people who the system is supposed to protect.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Thousands face imprisonment over ‘zombie warrants’
The arrest warrants are for unpaid fines under laws repealed in 2017 after parliament admitted they were unjust.
www.theage.com.au
December 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Thousands of Victorians have outstanding warrants for imprisonment for unpaid fines they will never be able to afford to pay.
Threats and actual imprisonment for unpaid fines criminalises poverty and punishes people who the system is supposed to protect.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Threats and actual imprisonment for unpaid fines criminalises poverty and punishes people who the system is supposed to protect.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
The designation of areas is unnecessary, ineffective and harmful. Police already have sufficient powers to search anyone they suspect has committed an offence.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Expanded police search powers challenged in Federal Court
The Human Rights Law Centre is challenging the Victoria Police decision to declare all of Melbourne CBD and surrounds a “designated area” for six months straight.
www.theage.com.au
December 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The designation of areas is unnecessary, ineffective and harmful. Police already have sufficient powers to search anyone they suspect has committed an offence.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
A Parliamentary report raises further questions about whether the government has properly considered whether there are alternatives to the demolition of the 44 towers, the disregard of residents’ human rights and the future of public and affordable housing in Victoria. imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
Government should heed inquiry recommendations and pause public housing redevelopment
A Parliamentary report raises further questions about whether the government has properly considered whether there are alternatives to the demolition of the 44 public housing towers.
imcl.org.au
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 AM
A Parliamentary report raises further questions about whether the government has properly considered whether there are alternatives to the demolition of the 44 towers, the disregard of residents’ human rights and the future of public and affordable housing in Victoria. imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
Claims by Victoria Police that they will not tolerate racial profiling have been debunked by new research showing that 12 years after police committed to eliminate the practice, young men of colour are still routinely being disproportionately stopped, searched and questioned.
December 1, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Claims by Victoria Police that they will not tolerate racial profiling have been debunked by new research showing that 12 years after police committed to eliminate the practice, young men of colour are still routinely being disproportionately stopped, searched and questioned.
IMCL's Managing Lawyer for Housing and Tenancy, Louisa Bassini, took part in a discussion hosted earlier this month by the Law Institute of Victoria on how to secure better housing outcomes for Victorian tenants. www.liv.asn.au/web/law_inst...
Human rights must underpin housing justice | Law Institute Journal
The state government’s plan to demolish 44 public housing towers in Melbourne is testing the ability of the Victorian Charter for Human Rights and Responsibilities to protect the right to housing.
www.liv.asn.au
November 27, 2025 at 4:27 AM
IMCL's Managing Lawyer for Housing and Tenancy, Louisa Bassini, took part in a discussion hosted earlier this month by the Law Institute of Victoria on how to secure better housing outcomes for Victorian tenants. www.liv.asn.au/web/law_inst...
The declaration of Melbourne’s CBD and surrounds as a designated area until the end of May is a vast over-reach by Victoria Police that will infringe on civil liberties and freedoms of people visiting the city. Read our media release: imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 AM
The declaration of Melbourne’s CBD and surrounds as a designated area until the end of May is a vast over-reach by Victoria Police that will infringe on civil liberties and freedoms of people visiting the city. Read our media release: imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
If you are Aboriginal, Pasifika, African or of Middle Eastern appearance or origin, you are at least five times more likely to be stopped and searched by police and twice as likely to be subjected to the use of force than if you are white. www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
‘These rates are astonishing’: Victoria Police’s profiling problem laid bare in new report
Victoria Police says its officers are trained to respond to a person’s behaviour, not their background. The numbers tell a different story.
www.theage.com.au
November 23, 2025 at 11:01 PM
If you are Aboriginal, Pasifika, African or of Middle Eastern appearance or origin, you are at least five times more likely to be stopped and searched by police and twice as likely to be subjected to the use of force than if you are white. www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Young offenders need support to get their lives on track, not years in jail with adult criminals.
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Young offenders need support to get their lives on track, not years in jail with adult criminals.
The proposed mask ban is an extraordinary over-reach by the government and Victoria Police that conflates criminal violence with legitimate democratic protest.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Premier’s promised mask laws to fall short amid prospect of legal challenges
Weaker than promised new laws around face coverings at protests could be introduced to parliament this week.
www.theage.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The proposed mask ban is an extraordinary over-reach by the government and Victoria Police that conflates criminal violence with legitimate democratic protest.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
The proposed mask ban is an extraordinary over-reach by the government and Victoria Police that conflates criminal violence with legitimate democratic protest.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Premier’s promised mask laws to fall short amid prospect of legal challenges
Weaker than promised new laws around face coverings at protests could be introduced to parliament this week.
www.theage.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The proposed mask ban is an extraordinary over-reach by the government and Victoria Police that conflates criminal violence with legitimate democratic protest.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
While most other states have abolished the offence, “begging and gathering alms” is still a criminal offence in Victoria. In fact, we are making things worse by criminalising poverty with the City of Melbourne recently voting to boost security guards in the CBD.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
‘We owe it to people like Jessica’: Victoria considers decriminalising begging after brutal killing
Begging is still a crime in Victoria that can land people in prison for up to a year. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny has asked for advice on whether to decriminalise the offence.
www.theage.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
While most other states have abolished the offence, “begging and gathering alms” is still a criminal offence in Victoria. In fact, we are making things worse by criminalising poverty with the City of Melbourne recently voting to boost security guards in the CBD.
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Inner Melbourne Community Legal welcomes the passage of legislation to create a statewide treaty with First Peoples. This is a monumental day for Aboriginal Victorians and a big step towards reconciliation over the wrongs inflicted by colonisation.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Australian-first treaty legislation passes in Victorian parliament
Historic legislation has passed that will see the creation of an Indigenous council that will be consulted on laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities.
www.abc.net.au
October 31, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Inner Melbourne Community Legal welcomes the passage of legislation to create a statewide treaty with First Peoples. This is a monumental day for Aboriginal Victorians and a big step towards reconciliation over the wrongs inflicted by colonisation.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Here is an important community update on the public housing towers demolition class action.
October 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Here is an important community update on the public housing towers demolition class action.
Tonight City of Melbourne councillors have a decision to make.
They are going to vote on whether to spend $2 million on security guards and a further $2.1 on surveillance.
They are going to vote on whether to spend $2 million on security guards and a further $2.1 on surveillance.
October 28, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Tonight City of Melbourne councillors have a decision to make.
They are going to vote on whether to spend $2 million on security guards and a further $2.1 on surveillance.
They are going to vote on whether to spend $2 million on security guards and a further $2.1 on surveillance.
Our team has spent all day in the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the decision earlier this year which allowed the demolition of the public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington to go ahead. Managing Lawyer Louisa Bassini explains more.
October 27, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Our team has spent all day in the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the decision earlier this year which allowed the demolition of the public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington to go ahead. Managing Lawyer Louisa Bassini explains more.
The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
Appeal over public housing class action gets underway
The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
imcl.org.au
October 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM
The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
IMCL has lodged the appeal on behalf of public housing residents who allege the government has breached their human rights.
IMCL has lodged the appeal on behalf of public housing residents who allege the government has breached their human rights.
October 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
IMCL has lodged the appeal on behalf of public housing residents who allege the government has breached their human rights.
IMCL has lodged the appeal on behalf of public housing residents who allege the government has breached their human rights.
Tomorrow the Supreme Court will begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
Come down and support residents before they go into court at 9.45am tomorrow at 459 Lonsdale Street in the city.
Come down and support residents before they go into court at 9.45am tomorrow at 459 Lonsdale Street in the city.
October 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Tomorrow the Supreme Court will begin hearing an appeal against a decision earlier this year to allow the demolition of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
Come down and support residents before they go into court at 9.45am tomorrow at 459 Lonsdale Street in the city.
Come down and support residents before they go into court at 9.45am tomorrow at 459 Lonsdale Street in the city.
IMCL supports social, community and disability sector workers rallying today across the country to protect equal pay.
Our sector deserves a classification structure that recognises the skills of our workforce and the essential and complex work they do for the community.
Our sector deserves a classification structure that recognises the skills of our workforce and the essential and complex work they do for the community.
October 22, 2025 at 11:36 PM
IMCL supports social, community and disability sector workers rallying today across the country to protect equal pay.
Our sector deserves a classification structure that recognises the skills of our workforce and the essential and complex work they do for the community.
Our sector deserves a classification structure that recognises the skills of our workforce and the essential and complex work they do for the community.
Tomorrow night, Melbourne City Council will decide whether to spend more than $4 million on extra security guards and CCTV cameras in the CBD.
The council should redirect this money to help people struggling with rising costs of living and housing affordability.
imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
The council should redirect this money to help people struggling with rising costs of living and housing affordability.
imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
October 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Tomorrow night, Melbourne City Council will decide whether to spend more than $4 million on extra security guards and CCTV cameras in the CBD.
The council should redirect this money to help people struggling with rising costs of living and housing affordability.
imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
The council should redirect this money to help people struggling with rising costs of living and housing affordability.
imcl.org.au/news/media-r...
IMCL managing lawyer Shifrah Blustein is quoted on page 1 of The Age today on new moves by the state government to recoup payments for fines which will unfairly hit people who are already struggling financially.
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
‘Tone-deaf cash grab’: State government to dramatically increase fine fees
The move has sparked concerns that vulnerable people already overwhelmed with ballooning toll and other fees, will be pushed further into debt.
www.theage.com.au
October 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
IMCL managing lawyer Shifrah Blustein is quoted on page 1 of The Age today on new moves by the state government to recoup payments for fines which will unfairly hit people who are already struggling financially.
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
www.theage.com.au/national/vic...