Closure of landmark Aboriginal Legal Service

Issue 

Closure of landmark Aboriginal Legal Service

By Jennifer Thompson

SYDNEY — The Aboriginal Legal Service has been shut down after 27 years of challenging the white-dominated legal system.

Late last month, the Supreme Court refused an application for adjournment and placed the heavily indebted ALS in the hands of a liquidator.

The ALS was set up in Redfern, in inner city Sydney, in 1970 during the wave of civil rights activism that also gave birth to the Aboriginal Medical Service and Aboriginal Housing Company. The service aimed to "spearhead the fight for indigenous rights", according to the February 26 Koori Mail.

It was a disappointing day for Aboriginal people, ALS solicitor Bruce Miles told the Koori Mail. "The Aboriginal Legal Service was rebellious, it was reflective of Aboriginal progress, it was created by Aboriginal people", he said.

The ALS had applied to the court for an adjournment of the application to hand it over to a liquidator, in order to sell its Cleveland Street property and settle its debts. Despite a dispute over the value of the property and the level of ALS debts, including to ATSIC, the court refused the adjournment and the service was forced to shut its doors.

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