Opening of Kalgoorlie Legal Aid Office

21/4/95

Greater access to justice is now available to the Goldfields' community with the opening of a Legal Aid Office in Kalgoorlie, Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes said today.

Speaking at the opening Mrs Edwardes said the office reflected the State Government's commitment to ensuring better access to justice for all Western Australians.

"The Goldfields Legal Aid Office is the first new regional office to be opened in eight years," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Staff at the office will be able to provide information and advice on both legal and quasi legal issues, assistance or representation before the courts and education about legal issues and processes.

"The office will be using both staff and private lawyers with the private legal profession continuing to play a substantial role in the provision of legally-aided casework.

"Staff lawyers will play a key role not only in case work but also in legal advice, information, referral, minor assistance, community legal education, duty lawyer and law reform services.

"In addition to these services being provided throughout the Goldfields region a travelling service will be provided to Esperance and Norseman.

"These will be monthly visits providing a duty lawyer, legal advice, legal education, minor assistance and some limited case work.

"The Legal Aid staff are developing a community network in Esperance and establishing a Legal Aid contact centre, which will assist in improving the provision of Legal Aid services to the Esperance Community.

"To ensure the Goldfields regional office meets the needs of its clients monitoring and ongoing evaluation of the office will occur monthly, with a yearly review and a strategic evaluation after three years," Mrs Edwardes said.

Mrs Edwardes also announced that she had approved funding for the development of a design brief for the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison with a view to accommodating and additional 52 medium security prisoners.

Media contact:  Diana Russell Coote 421 7777 or 222 9595