THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND PAYMENTS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM
MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA
ROSS HART
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BASS
TURNBULL'S CUTS TO COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES HIT HOME IN LAUNCESTON
Residents of Launceston have woken to the shocking news today that the Launceston Community Legal Centre will have to shed nearly half of its staff by December, thanks to harsh funding cuts by the Abbott-Turnbull Government.
The Liberals have done nothing but attack legal services since the day they came to office. Malcolm Turnbull and George Brandis have cut $52 million from Community Legal Centres, Legal Aid Commissions, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services.
Recent funding announcements by the Turnbull Government are a pathetic attempt to fix up the mess they have created. The announcements do not go far enough to address the 30 per cent funding cut Community Legal Centres will face on 1 July 2017, which will see many centres having to close their doors to clients.
Labor is proud to have delivered a $34 million boost to Community Legal Centres in government and has already pledged $43 million as part of a landmark domestic violence package if a Shorten Labor Government is elected.
Community Legal Centres help hundreds of thousands of Australians every year in times of need, including victims of domestic violence and financial fraud.
When Community Legal Centres are cut, it is the communities they serve that suffer. Last year alone, 160,000 people were turned away last year alone from Community Legal Centres because of capacity constraints.
Malcolm Turnbull, George Brandis and Andrew Nikolic have questions to answer on how they will address this impending crisis at the Launceston Community Legal Centre.
Access to justice is a fundamental right that should not be denied to the people of Launceston and northern Tasmania. Only Labor will protect it.
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2016
