Statement attributable to Uncle Percy Lovett, partner of Veronica Nelson:

“I can’t believe it. It just shows how bad the healthcare was in Dame Phyllis Frost Centre- Prison and how bad these companies are.”

“I hope this means that things will be better for the other women in prison, and that what happened to Veronica never happens again.”

“Blackfullas also need Aboriginal Health Services, it’s hard for us to talk to the officers and people inside.”

Statement attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of VALS:

“This is a momentous first step towards bringing healthcare in prisons in line with healthcare in the broader community. This is a win for the Aboriginal people who have advocated for better prison healthcare while dealing with so much grief and heartbreak.”

“Prison healthcare in Victoria is in a state of emergency. We speak to client’s daily about poor quality healthcare in prisons.“

“This crisis is particularly acute for Aboriginal people in prison who are more likely to die in custody because they didn’t get the healthcare they needed. Four Aboriginal people have died in Victoria’s prisons since Veronica Nelson.“

“In his submissions in the Coronial Inquest of Veronica’s passing, Uncle Percy Lovett called for an overhaul of prison healthcare in Victoria and for taking healthcare out of the hands of private corporations.”

“Aboriginal people in prison must have the option of being provided healthcare by Aboriginal health services, like they do in the community. Only Aboriginal health services can provide culturally safe healthcare for our people.”

“Private corporations in prisons have a track-record of providing neglectful healthcare, of cost-cutting, of systemic racism and of covering-up deaths in custody.”

“The next step is for the government to make this change in all prisons in Victoria and they need to do it quickly. Private for-profit corporations have no place in providing healthcare to Aboriginal people.”

“We are proud to support our clients, including Uncle Percy Lovett, who have been calling for an overhaul of Victoria’s prison healthcare system. Supporting our communities and amplifying their voices is a privilege.”