Qld legal aid in danger

Qld legal aid in danger

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — Community centres providing free legal advice could be forced to close because of a Queensland government cut in funding, a legal organisation warned on April 2.

Karen Fletcher, convener of the Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services, said 10 of the state's 20 community legal centres would be forced to cut services by 25%. Clients, usually low to middle income earners, would be denied access to justice.

She said a $400,000 deficit would affect the Women's Legal Service, the Youth Advocacy Service, Caxton Legal Service, Prisoners' Legal Service and the Community of Inala Legal Service. The cuts resulted from a dispute between the state and federal governments about funding.

From GLW issue 51