Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announces $21m for Aboriginal legal services
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Aboriginal legal services struggling to survive in the midst a nationwide financial crisis have been given a $21 million lifeline – but the head of one these services says it's far from necessary. Says it acknowledges inflation is increasing the cost of providing front-line services The NAAJA welcomes the increase, but says clients and lawyers are still at risk John Paterson, CEO of NAAJA, says lawyers at North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency in NT are among the lowest paid in country despite juggling "enormous" caseloads. At the same time, demand is growing at alarming rates, something the data show is driven by an increase in domestic violence cases in many cases. Hundreds of miles away in regional NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service has frozen its operations in 13 local courts as it grapples with a workload crisis. Chronic underfunding in Queensland has resulted in the suspension of some services since April. John Paterson says lawyers in Aboriginal legal services are under great stress. “Nationwide funding for services is welcome, but our initial request was around $250 million, so you can see the difference here,” Patterson said. "But we understand that there is pressure on budgets everywhere." Announced Friday by Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, one-time payment is reserved for distribution distribution across all states and territories by the industry's top agency, National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services . Legal services are only halfway through five-year financing deals, but Mr. Dreyfus said he acknowledged that inflation had increased the cost of providing critical frontline services. "The Australian government recognizes the critical role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services play in ensuring that First Nations people have access to culturally appropriate and safe legal aid," he said. NATSILS president Karly Warner also welcomed funding, but said the "band-aid measure will do little more than help keep lights on." He said demand for Aboriginal Legal Services has increased by up to 100 percent over the past five years, but basic funding from the Commonwealth has fallen in real terms. "We fully expect service freezes to continue this means dire consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including unfair incarceration separated families," he said. Lawyers pushed into 'enormous stress and trauma' Last year's federal budget allocated $99 launch a "First Nations Justice Package", which includes $13.5 million to legal services across Australia and $1 NATSILS. Lack of funding may result in some of NT's most vulnerable individuals not receiving legal representation However, legal services nationwide say the funds have yet to be released. Mr Patterson said cuts to legal services will undoubtedly continue, even after $21 million has been split between states and territories. “Our attorneys at the Katherine district office [each] take an average of more than 100 caseloads,” he