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

There are clauses that require those whom the Commonwealth funds through the national partnership agreement to spend all of that money on looking after and representing the needs of individual clients. There are clauses that say that the Commonwealth's funds are not to be used for advocacy. If those who work in the sector wish to engage in advocacy, that is entirely a matter for them. But we do stipulate as a condition of the Commonwealth's support for community legal centres that the Commonwealth's contribution is not be spent on advocacy because the demand from clients is great enough to exhaust the available resources anyway.

Senator Ketter, I know you take an interest in this area. I hope you will see the importance of prioritising so that we look after flesh and blood people and people in need before political causes. (Time expired)