Earlier this month the Federal Coalition announced record funding of over $55.7 million over the next three years to support legal services. Indeed, I visited the South East Legal Service in Mount Gambier to deliver the news in person.

This federal government funding is being delivered through National Partnership Agreements with state and territories, meaning that the South Australian State Government is responsible for distributing the South Australian share of this funding amongst South Australia’s community legal services sector.

It is extremely disappointing that the South Australian State Government has chosen to close the community legal centres in the South East and in the Riverland, presumably re-directing their share of the federal government funding into Adelaide.

This is yet another example of the clear disregard that the State Labor Government has for anyone living outside Adelaide. I understand that people needing the assistance of community legal services in the South East or the Riverland are now expected to travel to Adelaide or access services via the telephone.

There was a strong push within the Coalition Government to increase funding to the legal services sector. Having achieved this it is devastating to have the State Government take these much needed services away from regional South Australians in the South East and Riverland.

 

Contact: Charlotte Edmunds – 8531 2466