The Federal Government is to boost funding for legal assistance services across Australia.
In announcing an additional $1.6 million for 21 community legal centres and legal aid commissions, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the funding was targeted to where it is needed most.
"This funding boost recognises that many of these legal assistance services are experiencing significant demand.”
A recent ACOSS report revealed a crisis engulfing the nation’s community legal services. The report found that 14 per cent (or 11,693 people) presenting for help were turned away over the past year.
It found that about 73 per cent of legal services around the country reported not being about to meet demand for services, surpassed only by the problems we know are facing housing and homeless services.
"One-off funding for legal aid commissions in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT is also included to help those commissions meet the costs of providing assistance under the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services,” Attorney General Roxon said.
| Project | Amount | State | | Australian Centre for Disability Law NSW to continue to employ a centre director | $45,000 | NSW | | Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW to help meet increasing demand for services particularly in relation to insurances from natural disasters | $100,000 | NSW | | South West Sydney Legal Centre, funding where income management is being introduced | $50,000 | NSW | | Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre for rent & service delivery assistance | $80,000 | NSW | | Marrickville Legal Centre to help meet demand | $50,000 | NSW | | Shoalcoast CLC to help meet demand | $50,000 | NSW | | Rural Women’s Outreach to help meet demand due to income management introduction | $50,000 | NSW | | Central Coast CLC to help meet demand | $50,000 | NSW | | Hawkesbury Nepean CLC for Domestic Violence Support + Aboriginal Legal Access Program | $50,000 | NSW | | Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre to maintain the Aboriginal Legal Access Program | $50,000 | NSW | | Far West CLC in anticipation of increased demand due to income management | $50,000 | NSW | | Top End Women’s Legal Service for extra staff to help meet demand | $50,000 | NT | | Womens Legal Service Qld to help meet demand | $50,000 | Qld | | Central Community Legal Service SA to develop a phone application | $15,000 | SA | | Youthlaw Victoria, funding for Youthlaw online and Braybrook Outreach | $25,000 | Vic | | Homeless Persons Clinic (PILCH) | $80,000 | Vic | | Fitzroy, Caxton and Redfern CLCs to fund an online discrimination law service | $50,000 | Vic | | Association of Employees with Disability to maintain one lawyer position | $70,000 | Vic | | Murray Mallee CLS to meet demand of duty lawyer services for family violence at court Our office to do release | $70,000 | Vic | | Funding to Loddon-Campaspe CLC who provides services for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Goulburn Valley CLC in anticipation of increased demand due to income management | $50,000 | Vic | | Kimberley Community Legal Service WA to provide financial training for staff | $20,000 | WA |
|
Nice Post….very interesting….
regards,
Sydney Lawyers