Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion no. 276, standing in my name and the names of Senators McKim, Lambie and Hinch for today, by adding Senator Kakoschke-Moore as one of the movers of the motion.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senators McKim, Lambie, Hinch and Kakoschke-Moore, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) the crucial work done by Community Legal Centres across Australia,

  (ii) with concern, that Community Legal Centres:

(A) help over 215,000 people each year, but are forced to turn away more than 160,000 people largely due to a lack of resources, and

(B) face a 30 per cent reduction in Commonwealth funding nationally from 1 July 2017 under the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services,

  (iii) that if the 30 per cent cut is not reversed in the upcoming Budget, Community Legal Centres will be forced to further reduce front-line legal services to people across Australia in desperate need of legal assistance, including thousands of women and families experiencing domestic violence, and

  (iv) the Productivity Commission's 2014 recommendation for an urgent and significant investment of $200 million in the legal assistance sector, including to Community Legal Centres; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) reverse the funding cuts to Community Legal Centres of $34.83 million nationally between 2017-18 and 2019-20, and

  (ii) commit to adequate and sustainable longer-term funding contributions to the legal assistance sector.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is committed to access to justice and supports the important work of the community legal assistance sector. In a tight fiscal environment, the government is providing $1.6 billion for legal assistance services including community legal centres. The government is also providing a further $45 million for front-line services for those affected by family violence. Under the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services, services are directed to those who need them most. Funding for community legal centres is not a matter for the Commonwealth alone. Investment from the states and territories is also crucial.

Question agreed to.