Vulnerable and disadvantaged Queenslanders will have greater access to legal services with a more than $100 million investment in assistance organisations across the State over the next three years.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the multi-million dollar funding boost delivered on the Queensland Government’s election promise to revitalise frontline services.
“Everyone deserves the right to exercise their legal rights and meet their legal obligations but often this can be a challenging process for those who need it most,” Mr Bleijie said.
“We want to make sure the most marginalised members of our community are given the same opportunity to legal guidance as everyone else.
“This investment shows that we have a strong plan for the state and all Queenslanders, in contrast to Labor, which has no position and failed these vulnerable people while in government.
“Over the next 12 months, Legal Aid Queensland will receive $64.4 million to continue their valuable work assisting economically and socially disadvantaged people across the State.
“Another $30.1 million will be invested in a range of other community organisations over the next three years (2014-17), to provide free or low-cost legal assistance services.”
Mr Bleijie said the announcement came under a new funding model for the Legal Practitioner Interest on Trust Accounts Fund Grants Fund that would ensure organisations responded to identified community legal needs, while providing greater transparency and accountability.
“Some regulation is important in all industries, so we are investing $5.55 million to safeguard the quality of services available,” he said.
“This Government has worked closely with community legal organisations to improve justice services for Queensland and as a result, it’s predicted that 6,000 additional frontline services can be delivered over 2014-17.
“Our track record for supporting victims of crime speaks for itself, having last year allocated an additional $2 million over four years to five non-Government organisations as part of an election commitment to increase frontline services to victims of crime.”
For a full list of funding recipients, please visit the Department of Justice & Attorney-General website at http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/sponsorships-and-grants/funding/legal-assistance-services/lpitaf-13-14
