Access to Justice for All
The Law Society Northern Territory along with the Law Council of Australia and other legal representative bodies across Australia is calling on all governments to significantly increase their support for Australia’s legal assistance sector.
Our legal assistance sector including Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services is designed to be there to support members of our community during times of life when they experience significant vulnerability, need, hardship and stress.
On a daily basis, these services are relied upon by Australians across the nation who may be experiencing family violence, elder abuse or are at risk of homelessness.
However, our legal assistance sector has suffered greatly under decades of funding neglect and cannot keep up with demand for services. It is a sector in crisis.
On 28 May 2024, the Final Report of the Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) was released. This Report is a thorough investigation into the legal assistance landscape and provides clear guidance for how access to justice in Australia can be dramatically improved.
Urgent action is needed as confirmed NLAP funding ends in less than 12 months.
As part of the Access to Justice for All Campaign, the Law Council of Australia, on behalf of the legal profession, has sent the attached open letter to the Commonwealth Treasurer, Finance Minister and all Attorneys-General urging immediate attention to these issues.
Members of the Northern Territory legal community are encouraged to support this campaign by publishing the open letter on your social media platforms and other networks.
You can also support the campaign by taking a photo with the A4 Campaign Sign and distributing this on your social media platforms and other networks. Please follow and tag the Law Council and include the hashtag #A2J4ALL in your posts.
To find out more or to access campaign material, visit www.A2J4ALL.au
To view the Law Council of Australia Memorandum click here.