Qld Law Society welcomes $119m cash injection

Lawyers Weekly Australia reports…

The Queensland Law Society welcomed the state government’s five-year commitment to provide $119 million to community legal centres.

Queenslanders seeking legal advice are set to benefit from a $119.4 million cash injection for the state’s community legal centres over the next five years, delivered throughout the state by the sector’s legal body Community Legal Centre’s (CLC).

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the funding would ensure the ongoing provision of quality legal assistance services, as she paid tribute to Queensland’s legal practitioners and paralegal workers assisting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the impacts of COVID-19, a lot of Queenslanders are struggling to make ends meet right now, but many still need access to quality legal services,” Ms D’Ath said.

Queensland Law Society president Luke Murphy welcomed the funding as a “milestone”, with the combined state and Commonwealth funding guaranteeing five years of funding to CLC so that it can plan their operation and work to meet increased demand.

“There is no doubt this additional funding will go toward meeting [the increased] need, as will further support from the Commonwealth government as part of the recovery package for the Australian economy,” Mr Murphy said.

https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/28354-qld-law-society-welcomes-119m-cash-injection