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ABA welcomes Dreyfus’ calls for increased legal aid funding
The Australian Bar Association has expressed its support for shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus QC’s “commitment to increasing the commonwealth’s contribution to legal assistance”.
Jerome Doraisamy
In a statement, the ABA said it has long called for funding and support for the legal assistance sector, and “acknowledges the Shadow Attorney-General for his leadership in promising that Labor will invest in these vital organisations of the legal profession”.
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Mr Dreyfus’ pledge recognise the “crucially important work” of legal aid, community legal centres and indigenous legal services, ABA continued, and includes a commitment to increase funding and support for the legal assistance sector.
“Legal aid, community legal centres and indigenous legal services provide free legal and related help to vulnerable people when they need it most. They are part of the lifeblood of communities across Australia and of our justice system” said ABA president Jennifer Batrouney QC.
“Whilst there is more work to be done with governments towards a fairer society where anyone who needs legal assistance can receive it, not just those that that can afford it, we commend the shadow attorney-general’s announcement today and encourage all governments and Opposition representatives to commit to fund the sector in line with the Productivity Commission review”.
The ABA said it is looking forward to continuing to work with all members of Parliament “to secure long-term funding for the legal assistance sector”, and to ensure that people across Australia have access to the legal help they need, it added.
The news follows a pronouncement from the Law Council of Australia, noting it is standing behind a Labor vow to reinstate rigorous, transparent and merits-based judicial appointments before this year’s federal election.
