Attorney General officially opens Bunbury Legal Aid Office

25/7/00
Attorney General Peter Foss officially opened the new premises of the Bunbury Legal Aid Office at Koombana Court in Victoria Street, Bunbury today.
The Bunbury office administers the Legal Aid scheme in the South-West and Great Southern regions, stretching from Mandurah in the north to the Southern Wheatbelt towns of Katanning and Narrogin and down to Albany in the south.
"The Legal Aid Office provides a range of services including preliminary legal advice, self-help minor assistance, court duty lawyer and community legal education services," Mr Foss said.
The Attorney General particularly noted the co-operative efforts of private lawyers, the Bunbury and Albany Community Legal Centres and legal aid staff in providing assistance to more than 6,560 people in the 1999-2000 financial year.
"The Legal Aid Office network operates in a supportive environment, encompassing a broader range of community agencies from both the non-Government and Government sectors," he said.
"There are also the many private lawyers throughout the regions served by the Bunbury office that provide specialised expertise particularly in ongoing casework - 64 per cent of the cases done last year were done by private lawyers.
"This networking is particularly effective for cross-referral of clients and enabling a high level of regional service to be provided."
The Attorney General also recognised the close and co-operative links of the Legal Aid Office with the courts, police, women's refuges, youth organisations and a host of other community agencies in providing effective services to clients.
"The Legal Aid Office's community development work, such as participation in the establishment of the Bunbury Child Contact Centre and the Bunbury Domestic Violence Action Group is also to be commended," Mr Foss said.
Funding of the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia in 2000-2001 will be approximately $24 million. Of the Government funding, 53 per cent will be provided by the State Government and 47 per cent by the Commonwealth Government.
Media contact: Danielle van Kampen - 9321 2222