Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm proud to rise to speak on the motion put forward by the member for Dunkley, the representative in this House with the biggest heart. We know that community legal centres are based on the notion of social inclusion and access to justice for all. Community legal centres are independent not-for-profit organisations that provide a wide range of general and specialist legal services. They have a significant impact across communities by providing appropriate and effective client services; increased knowledge of, and access to, services that meet the community's legal needs; support to the justice system to effectively operate and make policy and practice decisions; and meaningful professional experience to volunteers.

I want to highlight the nearly 200 community legal centres right across Australia. They're all dedicated to offering legal help to the most vulnerable among us. I particularly want to highlight the Women's Legal Service Queensland that operates in my electorate in Annerley but also give a special call-out to the Inala legal service that services my electorate but is actually in the electorate next door. The Women's Legal Service Queensland provides legal assistance and other key support services to women in the areas of domestic and family violence, family law—something that I know you care passionately about, Deputy Speaker—child protection and sexual assault. They do that right across Queensland. They're well known and well respected across Australia for their work protecting women and children, and their policy advocacy.

Ensuring access to justice and equality before the law is paramount, particularly for those that are disadvantaged. Many of my constituents depend on these centres' services, reinforcing their fundamental role in our community. These centres are not just a resource; they're a beacon of hope for fair representation and support in navigating the complex legal system. I acknowledge and support the vital work that they do. I should point out that they also speed up courts, as self-represented litigants take longer to be dealt with by magistrates and judges. This motion recognises the vital role played by CLCs in Australia. CLCs serve as pillars of support for individuals and families navigating legal matters, offering essential guidance and assistance. Community legal centres, from Queensland to Victoria, also contribute to equal access to justice, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities.

We must also be aware of the public interest role played by the provision of these legal services. They provide free legal help to hundreds of thousands of people, with a special emphasis on the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community. The work of CLCs is critical in contributing to social inclusion. They're often the first point of contact for people seeking assistance, or their last resort when all else has failed. Without the work of community legal centres, many of the legal issues facing marginalised communities would be unmet and unaddressed. We acknowledge the hard work of CLCs who often bear the brunt of increased pressures and workloads, as they pick up cases unable to be dealt with by other organisations. Without the tireless dedication and commitment of staff and volunteers, CLCs wouldn't be able to provide their invaluable services, and they're often in the tougher end of law, such as in aged care, with homeless people and with people with mental health issues.

Another important function of CLCs is to provide information to the community about their rights and responsibilities. I'm reminding people that, despite what politicians say, there is a presumption of innocence in common law countries. You must be found guilty by the state; you start with that presumption of innocence—not that you'd see that when you hear some politicians talk. Through community legal education, CLCs play another vital role in supporting the legal needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and communities. In this sense, CLCs service an early intervention and prevention strategy by providing legal education and working with government and other bodies to improve unfair laws. Community legal education activities ensure that communities have improved access to legal information and education.

Relationships with community partners are critical to bridging the gap and opening dialogue. CLCs play a crucial role in informing decision-makers about how law and policy affect the community and contribute to making laws and practice fairer. That's why I particularly wanted to mention the Women's Legal Service in my electorate. For the woman who's escaped a violent partner and can move on with her life safely, the older person who's been helped to address the abuse from a relative, the person who is rehoused after being unfairly evicted and the young person who's assisted to address the mounting debt through unpaid fines—all of these people would agree that community legal centres change lives. They not only improve access to justice but are best placed to understand injustice when it arises, and, importantly, they advocate for change. They are to be commended.

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