The Law Society of Tasmania today announces its support for the increased funding to Legal Assistance in Australia announced by the Greens in their Access to Justice Policy.
The Greens have adopted the recommendations of the Productivity Commission in proposing an increase in funding to Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and Family Violence Legal Services.
In 2014 the Productivity Commission recommended a dramatic increase in funding for legal aid to return to the previous funding levels before successive Federal Governments introduced funding cuts. In making that recommendation, the Productivity Commission confirmed the huge impact on the broader community of inadequate legal assistance funding in this country.
The President of the Law Society of Tasmania, Matthew Verney said: – “I commend the Greens for being the only political party to commit to a properly funded legal assistance system in Australia. Over the last 10 years, federal governments of both colours have ripped hundreds of millions of dollars out of legal aid – affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians when they most need legal support. The effect of those cuts on the broader economy has been recognised by the Productivity Commission, and now by the Greens.”
The Law Society of Tasmania calls on both Liberal and Labor to match the funding commitments to legal aid proposed today by the Greens.
Matthew Verney President
