Law societies issue open letter to PM, joining chorus of voices calling for legal assistance funding

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

Law societies nationally have joined the chorus of voices calling for sustainable funding for free legal assistance services.

In an open letter to Malcolm Turnbull published today, the law societies of every state and territory have called on the prime minister to reverse $35m of cuts to community legal centres, and to boost funding to legal aid and Aboriginal legal services.

‘Community legal centres are badly underfunded even before the cuts begin, turning away 160,000 people a year, so this is a vital call on the prime minister to take urgent action,’ said Serina McDuff, executive officer of the Federation of Community Legal Centres, today.

‘Including the Federal Government cuts to begin next July and due to a lack of additional investment, community legal centres nationally are facing a shortfall of around $100 million over the next four years, with serious consequences for the number of people we will be able to assist in the face of clearly increasing need.’

Community legal centres provide vital free legal help for women escaping family violence, and vulnerable people experiencing workplace mistreatment, tenancy issues, and consumer scams.

‘In 2014 the Productivity Commission recommended an immediate $200 million annual boost across free legal assistance services. State and Territory Attorneys-General have written twice to the Federal Government voicing concerns over funding. In Victoria, we have just had an Access to Justice Review, which again confirms a significant funding deficit. Now law societies nationally have joined the call to properly fund free legal help for vulnerable people. We welcome their support and leadership and call on the prime minister to act,’ McDuff said.

McDuff said a significant boost was needed if access to justice for those in need was to be addressed.

‘The impact of these cuts will be felt by vulnerable people who can’t afford to pay a lawyer and who belong to the growing numbers who also aren’t eligible for legal aid. They are cuts that hit people with nowhere else to go,’ McDuff said.

Download this media release (PDF)

For media interview and information

Serina McDuff
Executive Officer
Federation of Community Legal Centres
0451 411 479

Darren Lewin-Hill
Communications Manager
Federation of Community Legal Centres
0488 773 535

Access to Justice Review confirms the value of legal help services, need for increased funding

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

The Federation of Community Legal Centres has welcomed today’s release of the Victorian Government’s Access to Justice Review.

Undertaken by the Department of Justice and Regulation, the review was tasked with identifying ways to improve access to justice for Victorians to ensure the most vulnerable and disadvantaged receive the support they need when they have a legal problem.

In making 60 recommendations that will now be considered by government, the report acknowledges the importance of integrated service delivery.

‘Community legal centres have led the way in integrated service delivery, from Health–Justice Partnerships providing legal assistance in health settings to working alongside financial counsellors. We’re glad to see the report has noted the effectiveness of this approach,’ said Serina McDuff, executive officer of the Federation, today.

The report also highlights the significant funding shortfall for legal assistance services, again confirming the drastic levels of underfunding of the legal assistance sector and recommending funding increases at both State and Federal levels.

‘Despite demonstrated demand, community legal centres are facing Federal cuts of 30 per cent from July next year, cuts that will have a devastating impact on the ability of community legal centres to provide free legal assistance to those most in need, such as people facing consumer scams and residential tenancy issues.

‘This is another report which confirms the extraordinary levels of unmet legal need already identified by the Productivity Commission in 2014, yet the Federal Government seems determined to proceed with the cuts.

‘At a State level, we urge the Victorian Government to increase funding to community legal centres and the broader legal assistance sector. In particular the report notes there is high demand for duty lawyer services, family violence related legal services, Aboriginal legal services and integrated service provision partnerships,’ McDuff said.

She welcomed the review’s recommendation that the Victorian Government provide longer-term funding.

‘Community legal centres have at times faced short-term funding arrangements, making it extremely difficult to not only retain experienced staff, but also to plan for future demand.

‘We commend the Department of Justice and Regulation on a thorough consultation process and a comprehensive report, and look forward to working with our members and partners in considering the report in detail,’ McDuff concluded.

For media interview and information

Serina McDuff
Executive Officer
Federation of Community Legal Centres
0451 411 479

Darren Lewin-Hill
Communications Manager
Federation of Community Legal Centres
0488 773 535

Further information

Federation submissions to the Access to Justice Review

Dreyfus-Brandis debate a vital chance to focus on legal help funding crisis, community lawyers say

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

A debate this afternoon between Attorney-General George Brandis and Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus offers a vital chance to focus on the national crisis in community legal centre funding in the lead-up to the Federal election, according to the peak body for fifty community legal centres in Victoria. Continue reading →

Prime minister, it’s time to acknowledge and act on the crisis in community legal centre funding

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

Update, Friday 29 July: Federal Government responds to our open letter to prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the legal assistance funding crisis.

An open letter to Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia

14 June 2016

Dear Prime Minister,

As the peak body for fifty community legal centres in Victoria, we write to call on the Federal Government to act urgently on the compelling evidence of a crisis in the funding of free legal help for vulnerable people through community legal centres in this State and, indeed, across Australia.

Despite the May Federal Budget, community legal centres nationally still face a 30 per cent cut from July 2017, with the Budget retaining more than $34 million in cuts amid a broader Federal funding shortfall of $100 million over the next four years. Continue reading →

Eminent panel considers continuing Federal Government challenges to ‘last resort’ legal help

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

An eminent panel including Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale, Federal Labor MP Tim Watts, Magistrate Anne Goldsbrough and leading community lawyers will today (1.30pm) consider the value of ‘last resort’ free legal help by community legal centres, and key challenges that Victorian centres continue to face as they work daily to deliver justice for disadvantaged Victorians. Continue reading →

Victoria set for access to justice review

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

Following an election commitment, the Victorian Government yesterday announced an access to justice review spanning legal assistance services including legal aid, pro bono legal help and community legal centres.

The review will provide a vital opportunity to focus on the national access to justice crisis from a Victorian perspective, including a consideration of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations and the impacts of the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services, which will see community legal centres lose nearly 30 per cent of their Federal funding in 2017.

The review is now open for submissions addressing the terms of reference.

The Federation will be making a submission to the review, as well as coordinating and supporting submissions from its 50 member community legal centres.

For media inquiries, contact Darren Lewin-Hill, communications manager, on 0488 773 535.

Related information

New restrictions on who can be helped will worsen the impact of deep cuts to community legal centres

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

The impact of deep Federal Budget cuts to free legal assistance will be increased by proposed new restrictions on who community legal centres can help under a new funding agreement, according to the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the State peak for 50 community legal centres in Victoria.

Under the proposed changes being fast-tracked by the Federal Government, it is no longer sufficient to be financially disadvantaged or to fall within a priority group to obtain free legal help; those who receive free legal help from community legal centres must be experiencing financial disadvantage and fall within a named priority group. Continue reading →

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