ANTHONY ALBANESE MP
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
MARK DREYFUS KC MP
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
CABINET SECRETARY
NATIONAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP
Today National Cabinet signed a Heads of Agreement for a new National Access to Justice Partnership that will provide a critical increase of nearly $800 million in funding over five years from 2025-26 to the legal assistance sector, with a focus on uplifting legal services responding to gender-based violence.
The Commonwealth Government will invest a total of $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal assistance services to be delivered through a new partnership agreement with the states and territories.
The former Coalition Government did not provide ongoing funding for this agreement, leaving a funding cliff from 30 June 2025. The Albanese Government will provide ongoing funding for the agreement, alongside other major agreements in skills, schools and health – this will provide funding certainty for the sector
This is the largest injection of funding to the legal assistance sector in 20 years, and provides much needed funding certainty for hundreds of services nationwide, including many who provide holistic support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
The funding was announced today at National Cabinet as part of a $4.7 billion package to respond to the national crisis of family, domestic and sexual violence and support legal assistance.
The National Access to Justice Partnership will commence on expiry of the current National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) on 30 June 2025. The Government’s commitment of funding for the Partnership, well before the expiry of the NLAP, will give the sector the certainty it needs to continue vital services
Today’s commitment will deliver vital support to all parts of the legal assistance sector, including Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, Women’s Legal Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services. It will also allow for salaries in community sector legal assistance providers to better align with the rest of the sector, ensuring these services can recruit and retain staff.
The full National Access to Justice Partnership will be agreed through the Standing Council of Attorneys-General by the end of the year.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“Gender-based violence is a national crisis – and we cannot solve it overnight.
“We recognise that the legal assistance sector plays a vital role in that response. Legal assistance helps victims safely leave and recover from violent relationships, through access to finances, secure housing and safe arrangements for children.
“Today’s announcement builds on our Government’s efforts to provide better access to services for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.”
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus:
“I have spent decades fighting for a better deal for the legal assistance sector. Legal assistance is essential to ensuring access to justice and equality before the law for all Australians, and safety for victims and survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence.
“I thank the many workers on the frontline who have been tireless advocates for the sector and for the rights of the thousands of Australians who rely on them every year.
“This funding is critical – it will mean that essential frontline services can continue to operate and help the most vulnerable in our community.”
FRIDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2024
