Bar says it acknowledges the crucially important work of legal aid
The Australian Bar Association (ABA) announced support for Commonwealth Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’ “commitment to increasing the commonwealth’s contribution to legal assistance.”
The ABA said 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,” said Jennifer Batrouney QC, president of the ABA. “They are part of the lifeblood of communities across Australia and of our justice system.”
The ABA said that it recognises the shadow attorney-general for his leadership in promising that Labor will invest in these vital organisations of the legal profession.
“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,” said Batrouney.
