Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC) has welcomed the federal government’s decision to abandon plans to cut funding for community legal centres, which would have forced the centre to slash its services.
As reported by Star Weekly, WCC feared plans to cut community legal centre funding by 30 per cent would mean the centre would be forced to cut the number of lawyers it employs, and in turn, the number of people it would be able to help.
But last week, Attorney-General George Brandis pledged that the May 9 budget would instead feature $55 million in extra funding for the sector.
In a Facebook post last week, WCC said the announcement that the cuts had been abandoned was great news.
However, the centre said there was still uncertainty about how funding would be allocated.
“In an already underfunded sector, the increasing demand means the conversation about adequate and ongoing resourcing needs to continue,” the post said.
Last year the centre provided legal help to 2342 people.
Scullin MP Andrew Giles said the change of mind was the result of tireless campaigning by the community.
“It’s a huge relief that the Turnbull government has finally backed down,” he said. “Congratulations to all those who fought for equal justice – it’s your campaigning that will give people in need access to critical advice and support.”
