In Victoria, police decide what to disclose in a criminal record check. These checks go to employers, housing providers and insurance companies. With a conviction, these checks can be a roadblock to accessing all manner of life’s necessities. And it doesn’t just impact serious offenders; a minor drug possession charge at 20 will be on your record when you’re 28. That’s why we need a clear and fair set of laws that govern how and when records will be disclosed. Victoria is the only jurisdiction in Australia without legislation governing how old convictions are disclosed. And to make matters worse, there are no laws that make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of an irrelevant criminal record.