Services and Jobs saved following State Government funding of $1.2 million …

… But still no funding for Environmental Defenders Office

Community Legal Centres Tasmania today welcomed the announcement that the State Government would provide $1.2 million in funding to the legal assistance sector to ‘fully offset’ federal government funding cuts that were due to commence from 1 July 2017.

Jane Hutchison, the Chair of CLC Tas said:

Community Legal Centres across Tasmania were facing staff cuts and reduced service delivery as a result of the Federal Government’s funding cuts to the sector, so it is a huge relief to be able to let our staff and the communities they serve know that the same level of service can continue to be provided.

We welcome the State Government’s commitment of $1.2 million for the 2017/18 financial year as an endorsement of our work and the important role we play in providing information, advice and representation to the financially and socially disadvantaged.

The State Government’s investment in the legal assistance sector will ‘fully offset’ 30 per cent cuts in federal Government funding to five community legal centres as well as the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania that was due to commence on 1 July 2017. However, none of the funds made available will be provided to Environmental Defenders Office who has been without any ongoing funding since 1 July 2014.

Jane Hutchison said:

Whilst some of our centres are safe from staff cuts and reduced service delivery we will continue to fight for appropriate funding of the Environmental Defenders Office who receive no ongoing funding and are reliant on donations from members of the public for their ongoing survival.
Benedict Bartl, Solicitor