Legal Rights

COVID-19 Policing

With the current state of emergency and various restrictions in place, some LGBTI people are unsure of their legal rights and what to do if they're fined or charged under new laws associated with COVID-19.

If you're:

• fined or charged under COVID-19 laws;
• stopped and questioned by police for being outside; or
• treated unfairly or targeted by police

You can contact the Fitzroy Legal Service on 0434 136 501 for free legal advice and information (9AM-5PM, Monday-Friday) and can make a report at covidpolicing.org.au. This is a free service for people who live in Victoria.

LGBTIQ Legal Service

The LGBTIQ Legal Service provides free legal help for LGBTIQ+ people in Victoria. Appointments are available via phone, or at their St Kilda office.

The LGBTIQ Legal Service can help if you have:

• Experienced discrimination, harassment and/or violence on the basis of your LGBTIQ+ identity
• Been impacted by family violence
• Are trans and gender diverse and have a legal issue related to your gender identity

If you or someone you know needs help, email lgbtiqlegalservice@skls.org.au or via phone on (03) 7037 3208 from 2-5pm on Monday, Wednesday, or Fridays to arrange a phone or video appointment.

For legal information about common legal issues resulting from COVID19, see these resources created by Justice Connect: https://justiceconnect.org.au/help/covid19/

To report issues around unfair Policing and COVID19, please see the Police Accountability Project’s new website: https://covidpolicing.org.au/