Australian legal aid services ‘need $200 million more a year’ – Productivity Commission

The productivity commission has said the Abbott Government should add $200 million a year to legal assistance services around Australia and reverse cuts to indigenous legal services to meet widespread legal need.

Jane Lee, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald reports that “Its findings defy the Coalition’s plans to slash more than $40 million from the legal assistance sector over the next four years, and comes amid growing pressure to increase funding to it. Legal aid commissions have cut their services in recent years, as funding has not kept up with growing demand for free legal help.”

Attorney-General George Brandis, QC, has previously insisted planned cuts will not affect frontline legal services, including court representation. A spokesman for Mr Brandis said he was “considering the c ommission’s findings and recommendations”.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-legal-aid-services-need-200-million-more-a-year–productivity-commission-20141203-11zff7.html