The partnership is a $2.4 billion agreement for government-funded legal aid
The government has initiated an independent review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP), an agreement between the national government and all states and territories for government-funded legal assistance.
The NLAP, a $2.4 billion agreement between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, currently provides funding for essential legal assistance services for the most vulnerable people in the country. Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services deliver legal assistance under the partnership.
The NLAP was developed following the National Strategic Framework for Legal Assistance principles, which is the overarching policy framework for all Australian government and state and territory legal assistance funding. The framework encourages the government and the legal aid sector to take a unified and coordinated approach to keep the justice system within reach in Australia and help focus finite resources towards areas of greatest legal need.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus recognized the crucial role of legal assistance in ensuring access to justice and equal treatment under the law, particularly for disadvantaged individuals. As the current NLAP is set to expire in 2025, the government has commenced an independent review that aims to assess how future arrangements can better facilitate access to justice for those in need.
Dreyfus has appointed Dr. Warren Mundy as the independent reviewer. Mundy was the presiding commissioner on the productivity commission's landmark access to justice arrangements public inquiry. He brings a wealth of extensive experience to the task.
All state and territory attorneys-general have agreed to the review, and the terms of reference have been developed in consultation with representatives from the legal assistance sector. The review process is expected to be finalized by early 2024, with the findings crucial in shaping future funding decisions for legal assistance.
The terms of reference for the review are publicly available on the Attorney-General Department's website.
