Community legal boost in line after funding cuts reversal

The federal government announced a reversal to the proposed 30 per cent cut to Commonwealth funding for Community Legal Centres (CLCs) on Monday afternoon.

Community legal services have been available in Cootamundra for some time now, however, Intereach Cootamundra Community Hub’s Louise Dabin believes the existing services fail to adequately cater for the needs of locals, many of whom would greatly benefit from personal legal consultation.

“Unfortunately, the legal aid program never really took off,” Dabin said.

“We have legal services available but I don’t think there was initially enough push behind it.”

“There wasn’t enough advertising, it then became a phone link-up and people started thinking ‘why should I come here, shouldn’t I be able to use a phone service from home?’”

Mrs Dabin shared aspirations for improved legal consultancy in Cootamundra and stated that the client base was shifting from a civil to family focus.

However, Mrs Dabin remained adamant that face-to-face consultation is the only way forward.

“When legal consultation is not face to face, it just doesn’t work,” she said.

In a statement delivered by Attorney-General George Brandis and Minister for Women Michaelia Cash, $39 million was pledged towards CLCs under the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services.

The government has assured the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) that the additional funding will be targeted at family law and violence aspects of CLCs.

“The announcement today is excellent news for all those people who rely on the help of CLCs every day and for our centres and communities across Australia,” NACLC Chief Executive Officer Nassim Arrage said.

“This funding is a lifeline for a sector that was facing significant cuts.

“We have been working hard over a long period of time to emphasise its vital importance.”