George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can. Over the past 18 months the government has carefully examined legal assistance funding to ensure that it is directed to front-line services. When we came to power we found that a substantial proportion of the legal assistance budget was directed to so-called policy work or advocacy work—useful work, but not as important in the scheme of things as actually helping people in need. So, our mantra, my approach to the provision of legal assistance, has been to put clients before causes. Where you have needy people, vulnerable people, in need of support, their needs come before the advocacy of causes, and I do not relent that for a moment. That approach, together with the announcement I made at one o'clock today, should restore any lingering uncertainty from the sector. (Time expired)