THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
JUSTICE PROJECT REPORT WELCOMED
Labor welcomes the landmark Justice Report published by the Law Council today.
This report, led by former Chief Justice of the High Court the Hon Robert French AC, represents one of the most important and largest pieces of work on access to justice issues in Australia published in recent years.
The past five chaotic years of the coalition government have been marked by a complete neglect of access to justice issues and legal assistance services.
It was thanks to pressure by Labor that the government backed down on funding cuts to Community Legal Centres in the 2017 budget which would have devastated the sector. But simply saving the furniture is not enough.
The Justice Report makes a number of key recommendations, including the introduction of Justice Impact Tests on all new legislation, better public education on legal issues, greater cultural sensitivity in the justice system, and greater funding for legal assistance services.
Labor will carefully consider all of these recommendations and calls on the government to do the same.
We thank the authors of this important report, and the Law Council generally, for their hard work in once more highlighting the vital issue of access to justice.
THURSDAY, 23 AUGUST 2018
