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Community legal centres accept federal funding cuts 'with gun at their heads' Community legal centres accept federal funding cuts 'with gun at their heads'
(about 4 hours later)
Community legal centres “had a gun pointed to their heads” to accept commonwealth funding cuts while thousands of vulnerable clients were in limbo, a leading Queensland advocate says.Community legal centres “had a gun pointed to their heads” to accept commonwealth funding cuts while thousands of vulnerable clients were in limbo, a leading Queensland advocate says.
On Tuesday the prime minister, Tony Abbott, signed an agreement cutting 30% of funding to centres across the country from 2017, despite the productivity commission finding last year that every $1 spent saved the community $18.On Tuesday the prime minister, Tony Abbott, signed an agreement cutting 30% of funding to centres across the country from 2017, despite the productivity commission finding last year that every $1 spent saved the community $18.
In the past financial year 80,648 people were turned away from CLCs in Queensland, more than half the national total. They have reluctantly urged the state government to drop its shared resistance as funding is due to expire on 1 July.In the past financial year 80,648 people were turned away from CLCs in Queensland, more than half the national total. They have reluctantly urged the state government to drop its shared resistance as funding is due to expire on 1 July.
That was despite concerns that the funding cuts would mean de facto means testing, which would restrict access to legal help for some family violence victims, elderly people and other vulnerable groups. There also would be a ban on using federal funds for policy advocacy.That was despite concerns that the funding cuts would mean de facto means testing, which would restrict access to legal help for some family violence victims, elderly people and other vulnerable groups. There also would be a ban on using federal funds for policy advocacy.
James Farrell, the director of the Queensland association of independent legal services, said centres “felt like we had a gun pointed to our head” after the commonwealth gave only six weeks to negotiate before the old deal expired.James Farrell, the director of the Queensland association of independent legal services, said centres “felt like we had a gun pointed to our head” after the commonwealth gave only six weeks to negotiate before the old deal expired.
“That uncertainty was a huge issue,” Farrell said. “We had 5,600 open cases for clients that needed ongoing legal help, and currently about 2,000 people get legal advice and information from Queensland community legal centres each week.”“That uncertainty was a huge issue,” Farrell said. “We had 5,600 open cases for clients that needed ongoing legal help, and currently about 2,000 people get legal advice and information from Queensland community legal centres each week.”
The Abbott government had ignored “its own independent, robust, economic analysis” proving the worth of CLCs, he said.The Abbott government had ignored “its own independent, robust, economic analysis” proving the worth of CLCs, he said.
Queensland’s second most senior judge, appeal court president Margaret McMurdo, condemned the advocacy ban as “anti-democratic and completely fail[ing] to apprehend the essence of the successful roles of CLCs in our society” in a speech last month.Queensland’s second most senior judge, appeal court president Margaret McMurdo, condemned the advocacy ban as “anti-democratic and completely fail[ing] to apprehend the essence of the successful roles of CLCs in our society” in a speech last month.
McMurdo also called for a better model of funding for centres, lauding their role in “promot[ing] human rights and social justice for disadvantaged and vulnerable minorities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans intersex people, the mentally ill, those with physical disability, prisoners, refugees, seniors and victims of crime”.McMurdo also called for a better model of funding for centres, lauding their role in “promot[ing] human rights and social justice for disadvantaged and vulnerable minorities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans intersex people, the mentally ill, those with physical disability, prisoners, refugees, seniors and victims of crime”.
“It must be frustrating for CLCs … to have to spend so much time and money every year chasing government funding. The short-term funding which follows makes strategic planning almost impossible,” she said.“It must be frustrating for CLCs … to have to spend so much time and money every year chasing government funding. The short-term funding which follows makes strategic planning almost impossible,” she said.
“Dedicated and experienced staff are left without the job security or career paths they deserve.”“Dedicated and experienced staff are left without the job security or career paths they deserve.”
Under the federal government’s proposal, Queensland is to receive a short-term funding boost of an extra $1.5m over the next two years before a 25% cut from 2017.Under the federal government’s proposal, Queensland is to receive a short-term funding boost of an extra $1.5m over the next two years before a 25% cut from 2017.
But Farrell said this was no cause for celebration because while it briefly addressed the historical underfunding of Queensland centres, the money had been taken from other states.But Farrell said this was no cause for celebration because while it briefly addressed the historical underfunding of Queensland centres, the money had been taken from other states.
It also created the dilemma of raising expectations of a safety net for those in legal crisis, only to dash them from 2017.It also created the dilemma of raising expectations of a safety net for those in legal crisis, only to dash them from 2017.
“We’ll spend the next two years scaling up services in important areas for us, like family violence, employment law and housing,” Farrell said.“We’ll spend the next two years scaling up services in important areas for us, like family violence, employment law and housing,” Farrell said.
“That will give the community this expectation that there is some level of safety net there for people and the rug will just be pulled out from under them after that.“That will give the community this expectation that there is some level of safety net there for people and the rug will just be pulled out from under them after that.
“For every four people we see, we’re already turning away three people, and in two years’ time we’re going to be turning away even more.”“For every four people we see, we’re already turning away three people, and in two years’ time we’re going to be turning away even more.”
Comment has ben sought from the office of the federal attorney general, George Brandis. A spokesman for federal attorney general George Brandis said the federal government “provides $1.3bn over five years to legal aid commissions and community legal centres”.
“The new allocation models are evidence-based and distribute funding according to relative need and the cost of delivering services between jurisdictions.
“At the recent law, crime and community safety council meeting, that formula was not called into question by any state or territory attorney general.”