Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to add it to an answer that I gave earlier. I am pleased that I did check with the Attorney-General. It is a lesson for all of us to always check the allegations that they make. I said how Labor had left us with the debt and deficit legacy but Labor also left us with the funding cliff. It seems they only funded community legal centres for a short period and Labor did not make any arrangements for this to continue or to provide any certainty.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will cease interjecting.

Ms Ryan interjecting—

The member for Lalor is warned.

Mr Mitchell interjecting—

The member for McEwen is warned.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

The member for Gorton will leave under 94a. He was warned earlier.

The member for Gorton then left the chamber.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So in terms of the Peel legal centre that the shadow Attorney-General raced with me, they are already scheduled to receive $276,278 in legal funding over the next two years. It is already being amassed. In March this year, we announced over $25 million to help legal assistance services. This included: $12 million over two years for 61 community centres; $11.5 million over two years for the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program;—

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Rankin will leave under 94a.

The member for Rankin then left the chamber.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

$2 million to restore legal aid commission funding for the Expensive Commonwealth Criminal Cases Fund.

Since that time, we have delivered a five-year national partnership agreement on legal assistance services, delivering $1.3 billion of Commonwealth funding for legal aid commissions and community legal centres. This is the first time Commonwealth funding for community legal centres has been included in a national partnership agreement. The agreement provides for a fair, more systematic approach to the funding allocation to deliver legal services to vulnerable people. We have provided certainty; Labor provided nothing.

Brett Whiteley (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am wondering, given the information that has been provided, would you seek a formal apology from the member?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat.