The attorney-general said this is the Commonwealth's largest-ever investment in legal assistance
The government has announced the $3.9bn National Access to Justice Partnership (NAJP), aimed at providing additional support to the nation’s legal assistance sector.
Finalised during the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting in Melbourne, the NAJP will replace the current National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) from 1 July 2025, delivering $800m in additional funding over five years.
According to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, the NAJP represents the Commonwealth’s largest-ever investment in legal assistance, with funding aimed at bolstering frontline services for vulnerable Australians, including those affected by family, domestic, and sexual violence. The agreement provides:
The agreement also introduces measures to address systemic challenges in the sector. These include quarantining funding for specific services, reducing pay disparities to aid in staff retention, indexing funding to account for inflation, and simplifying funding streams to lessen administrative burdens. Additionally, the NAJP aligns with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, aiming to enhance outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
While the initiative has been lauded for providing long-term financial security and addressing some systemic issues, concerns remain. The Law Council of Australia welcomed the agreement but criticised it for falling short of the recommended $500m annual funding increase proposed in Dr. Warren Mundy’s review of the NLAP.
Law Council president Greg McIntyre SC expressed disappointment, highlighting that many critical areas of legal need remain underfunded. “Essential services are forced to turn people away due to resource constraints. This is a missed opportunity to ensure timely legal assistance for all Australians,” he stated.
Specific gaps identified include unmet needs in family and civil law, employment law, consumer law, and elder abuse cases. The underfunding of private practitioners who handle over 70% of legal aid cases also raises concerns, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to justice is already strained.
