Australian Bar Association welcomes shadow Attorney-General’s commitment to legal assistance sector.

02 February 2019

The Australian Bar Association (ABA) welcomes the announcement by the Commonwealth Shadow Attorney-General of his “commitment to increasing the commonwealth’s contribution to legal assistance”.

The announcement acknowledges the crucially important work of legal aid, community legal centres and indigenous legal services 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 Jennifer Batrouney QC, President of the Australian Bar Association.

The ABA 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.

The President said “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 looks 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.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Cindy Penrose 0420 309 420 or ceo@austbar.asn.au

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