Ballarat’s community legal services provider has welcomed the federal government’s new windfall investment in the sector, reversing previous cuts which were slated to come into effect in June.
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Attorney General George Brandis announced the additional $55.7 million in funding for community legal services on Monday morning.
The additional funds will see $39 million allocated directly to family and domestic violence, with the remaining $16.7 million to be used for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal affairs.
The boost which will be included in the May 9 budget will lift investment in the sector to a record $1.73 billion.
Speaking at a press conference in Brisbane, Mr Brandis said “the available funds are being prioritised and committed to provide frontline services to those who need them most”.
“The government has always recognised the essential role of the legal assistance sector in providing access to justice for the most vulnerable Australians,” Mr Brandis said.
The decision will reverse the government’s impending cuts on the sector which would have slashed 30 per cent of funding for the country’s 190 centres.
The funding comes after the Central Highlands Community Legal Centre saw a 19 per cent increase in cases involving family violence across 2015/16, accounting for more than 44 per cent of overall cases.
CHCLC coordinator Lisa Buckland said the funding would play a pivotal role in ensuring the organisation was capable of assisting more disadvantaged people.
“We are pleased to see this reversal,” Ms Buckland said. “We were facing the unpleasant task of turning many more vulnerable people away.
“While we are grateful for the reversals, pressure needs to remain on the government to ensure that the sector funding is not only maintained, but is progressively increased, in line with the recommendations from the Productivity Commission.”
Across 2015 the CHCLC saw more than 2000 clients, with 85 per cent coming from low income backgrounds. Fifty-five per cent of clients were women.
Ballarat MP Catherine King had previously been scathing of the government’s imminent cuts, saying the funding reduction would have forced the CHCLC to lose one of its three lawyers.
Last month a senate motion condemning the cuts was passed with the support of Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenephon Team senators as well as independents Jacqui Lambie and Derryn Hinch.
“This is a huge win for everyone who has fought against these cuts, which would have seen Community Legal Centres like Central Highlands Community Legal Centre forced to turn away clients in need," Ms King said.
