In a stated aim to ensure that Indigenous Australians have access to high quality, professional and culturally appropriate legal services, the Government has committed $120 million over three years for the provision of these services.

Western Australia and Victoria are the first states for which requests for tenders will be released, Ruddock said, to be followed by Queensland in March next year.

“This will provide both increased certainty for service providers and a sharpened ability to distribute resources to those in most need of legal aid services. The Government is committed to seeing better outcomes delivered to Indigenous Australians and ensuring value for money,” he said.

All potential tenderers will have access to information sessions in Melbourne and Perth, and workshops will be conducted in those cities to assist Indigenous people who are not experienced in the tendering process.

The requests for tender to provide legal aid service to Indigenous Australians will be rolled out progressively in the other States and Territories during the next financial year.