State Government to meet community legal centres funding shortfall

• State Government to provide community legal centres with almost $1.2 million to compensate for the loss of funding from the Legal Contribution Trust

• The Federal Government has announced it will restore funding to the community legal sector

The McGowan Labor Government will provide about $1.2 million to the community legal sector to ensure disadvantaged and vulnerable Western Australians have access to free legal help.

Community legal centres were facing a funding shortfall after being notified last year that there would be no distribution from the Legal Contribution Trust from July 1, 2017.

Community legal centres are an essential component of the legal assistance sector framework in WA, providing assistance to more than 27,000 Western Australians each year.

They are situated throughout the State, in the metropolitan area and in most major regional centres.

In regional centres, where legal services are scarce, community legal centres are particularly important as an alternative source of legal assistance to Legal Aid and the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA.

Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley:

"Providing access to justice services for all Western Australians is a high priority for the State Government.

"Community legal centres provide practical legal assistance for the most vulnerable in our community.

"I welcome the Federal Government's announcement to restore funding to the community legal sector.

"Community legal centres across Western Australia have endured years of uncertainty and I am delighted that they have certainty concerning future funding arrangements from both State and Federal governments.

"This week's announcement will relieve the immediate pressure on centres looking at closing or reducing their services." 

Attorney General's office - 6552 6800