Attorney-General
Member for Isaacs
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
Cabinet Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Member for Bruce
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Member for Hotham
Simon Crean MP
Joint Media Release
Strengthening access to legal services in South East Melbourne
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus today announced new funding for the Springvale Monash Legal Service which looks after more than 4500 clients a year with free advice, education and representation across a range of areas including family law, domestic violence cases, workplace rights and accident claims.
The Rudd Government will increase resources for the people of south-east Melbourne with an extra $400,000 to boost resources at the busy Springvale Monash Legal Service over the next four years, said the Attorney-General.
Access to legal advice and support is essential for a fair go under the law. It is a fundamental right for all Australians which needs to be strengthened after savage cuts and underfunding over many years by the Howard Government, said Mr Dreyfus.
Legal services around Australia have not yet fully recovered, but this is a significant boost in a tough budgetary period.
The extra money will make a real difference to local people. It makes access to justice more affordable and puts high-quality professional advice within reach, said Alan Griffin MP, who represents communities in the area as the federal Member for Bruce.
This service is a community asset and will now be able to employ more frontline lawyers and staff to help with family law, mortgage stress, employment law, child protection matters and consumer law, said Simon Crean, federal Member for Hotham.
This funding is part of an extra $33.5 million over four years for community legal centres across Australia and in addition to $32 million already provided annually.
THURSDAY, 1 AUGUST 2013
