THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
MEDIA RELEASE
GOVERNMENT LEGAL ASSISTANCE CUTS HIT SA
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC today visited Community Legal Centres in Adelaide to hear about the impact of the Abbott Government's cuts to legal assistance.
Mr Dreyfus met with staff at the Women's Legal Service SA and the Environmental Defender's Office SA.
"The Abbott Government will cut $43 million out of the legal assistance sector over the next four years," Mr Dreyfus said.
"Senator Brandis has made empty assurances that his cuts are targeted at policy reform and advocacy', but when reduced funding means organisations have to cut their paid staff, that will inevitably affect their ability to deliver frontline legal services.
"Advocating to all levels of government on policy reform is a key role Community Legal Centres can play in representing their clients.
"Community Legal Centres are often best placed to see opportunities for fixing widespread legal problems through policy change.
"Environmental Defender's Offices across Australia have been advised that their entire Commonwealth funding will be cut from 1 July.
"EDOs provide a vital service in assisting community groups, landholders and individuals to know their legal rights and protect their local environment.
"In government Labor announced additional funding to improve access to justice, because organisations like Community Legal Centres and EDOs make a real difference to the lives of Australians.
"In the last Budget we provided $10 million over four years to improve frontline service delivery in Community Legal Centres and these are precisely the funds that Senator Brandis has cut.
"Having already announced $43 million in cuts to access to justice services before their Commission of Audit has reported, how much more funding can this sector expect to lose in the upcoming Budget?"
TUESDAY, 11 MARCH 2014
