Boost for Legal Aid
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Media Release
8 May 2007
People living in rural Australia and separated families will receive greater assistance with additional funding being provided for legal aid Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said today.
The improved access to legal services is being supported with the allocation of a total of $19.7 million in new funds over four years.
“The additional funding will bring the Australian Government’s commitment for the provision of legal aid through legal aid commissions to more than $650 million over the next four years,” Mr Ruddock said.
The package includes $8.3 million to maintain legal aid services in regional, rural and remote Australia. The funding will assist locally-based private sector firms with recruitment of young lawyers and help offset the high cost of delivering legal services over long distances.
“The Australian Government wants to ensure that people living in our non-urban areas can access legal aid services, particularly for family law matters,” said Mr Ruddock.
Mr Ruddock said the package also includes $5.2 million to help separated families access legal aid and take advantage of the new child support appeal processes being phased in from 1 January 2007.
$6.2 million is also provided for legal aid for serious criminal prosecutions, to make sure that high cost cases do not detract from other key priorities, such as family law.
This package demonstrates the Australian Government’s strong commitment to improving access to legal aid.
Media Contact: Steve Ingram (02) 6277 7300