A one-off grant from the state government will enable Whittlesea Community Legal Service to employ two extra part-time lawyers dedicated to helping victims of family violence.
Earlier this year, the Epping-based community legal centre faced the prospect of letting go of its two part-time lawyers. The new grant raises the prospect of four part-time lawyers being employed.
When the Abbott government came to office two years ago, the then prime minister signalled funding cuts to the sector, beginning July 1 this year, that would leave many legal centres almost 30 per cent worse off.
After a vocal campaign from attorneys-general across the country, the federal government in March this year did an about-face and guaranteed funding at current levels for the next two years.
Funding a ‘relief’
Whittlesea Community Connection’s chief executive, Jemal Ahmet, who oversees organisation of the Epping legal service, said the turnaround had only delayed the funding cuts for two years, leaving many centres still unsure of their future.
He said the one-off grant from the state government came as a relief and would help the Epping centre keep pace with the demand coming from family violence cases.
“Right now, we get two family violence disclosures a day,” Mr Ahmet said. “This [funding] will take the pressure off and ensure more people get the support they need. It’s a major turnaround from where we were a few months ago.” The centre will receive $50,000 from the state government’s “assistance fund” and $52,174 for a duty lawyer.
While the area doesn’t have a local court, the nearest being at Heidelberg and Broadmeadows, Whittlesea Community Legal Service was successful in its campaign to hire a duty lawyer to ensure its clients are court-ready.
States worse off
In the past, state and federal governments jointly funded community legal centres. But a new funding regime began in July after the signing of a national partnership agreement that shifts responsibility to states and territories to distribute $1.3 billion in funds over five years. Most states will be left worse off under the new agreement.
Federation of Community Legal Centres chief executive Liana Buchanan welcomed the Victorian government’s one-off grant of $3.2 million to 23 community legal centres. But, she said, the federal government’s new funding model contradicted its commitment to tackling family violence.
“Where are the federal government’s priorities when so many women are dying and so many are at risk of preventable injury and death?” Ms Buchanan asked.
