(Photo: QLS)
The future of the South Burnett’s fortnightly legal outreach service seems more certain after the Federal Government announced it will abandon planned funding cuts to Community Legal Centres in the upcoming Budget.
The decision has been welcomed by the Queensland Law Society (QLS), who campaigned vigorously against a proposed $2 million reduction in Queensland’s funding.
QLS President Christine Smyth said on Monday the decision means society’s most vulnerable people will continue to be able to access justice.
“Community Legal Centres in Queensland are already forced to turn away 160 000 people a year,” Ms Smyth said.
“Had these funding cuts been maintained, tens of thousands of people would have been effectively unable to access their basic legal rights.”
Ms Smyth said the QLS had been relentless in lobbying for a reversal of the cuts, and she was glad that the government was listening.
“The fact the government took on board the Society’s submissions and changed its mind is pleasing, although it is regrettable the cuts were proposed in the first place,” she said.
“We are all aware that current economic conditions require some austerity measures, but you can’t tighten your belt if you don’t have one.
“A country like Australia should always be able to protect its most vulnerable people.”
Ms Smyth said she hoped the government’s decision was an indication that there may be opportunity for further discussions on legal funding and other issues important to the legal profession.
“It needs to be born in mind that while we have avoided going over the funding cliff, we are still standing on the edge.”
The Federal Government’s decision to abandon its plan for funding cuts also drew praise on Monday from the Queensland Government and Community Legal Centres Queensland Inc.
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said she was relieved the Government had listened to reason, but underlined that the uncertainty the proposed cuts caused had been deeply troubling for centres who have had to turn vulnerable people away.
“We just hope this hasn’t come too late for some people, and that vulnerable members of our community haven’t been left in distress,” Ms D’Ath said.
Community Legal Centres Queensland director James Farrell praised the Government for listening to the
community’s concerns.
“Thanks to the Government’s sensible decision, community legal centres will be able to continue providing legal help to women leaving violent relationships, parents struggling to care for their children, workers who aren’t paid or are unfairly sacked, tenants threatened with illegal evictions and older people whose financial assets are taken by their carers,” Mr Farrell said.
“Today’s announcement means that this work can continue, and that ‘access to justice’ is available for everyone, regardless of the size of their bank account.”
Footnote: In July last year the South Burnett gained a community legal service for the first time when the Advocacy and Support Centre, based in Toowoomba, began offering a fortnightly legal outreach at the Kingaroy Courthouse.
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