Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week the government finally released the Independent review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership report. It included 39 welcome recommendations—most notably for an urgent injection of funding, because it's clear our community legal services are stretched to the limit in trying to meet increasing demand. Indeed, a report published by Community Legal Centres Australia in March found that centres were forced to turn away more than 368,000 people seeking help in 2022-23, averaging a thousand people a day. I've met with the sector and I can attest to the fact that the situation in Tasmania is even more acute than on the mainland. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say Tassie's services really are at breaking point.

The review was handed to the Attorney-General in March, giving the government ample time to consider the recommendations and provide sorely needed funds in the budget. But they didn't, and the sector and the community continue suffer. So, with the National Legal Assistance Partnership set to expire next year, it's vital federal and state governments consider the review's findings, accept the recommendations and establish a much better national agreement to adequately fund and structure legal services. Until this happens, all the government announcements about protecting vulnerable people—including women, children and Indigenous people—is just spin.