Justice grant to fund Banana community legal service

Anglicare Central Queensland will receive a State government grant of $40,000 to support basic legal services and education in remote communities throughout the region, including the Banana Shire, Woorabinda, Central Highlands and far west.

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said the services would be provided through the Banana Community Legal Centre, which would also conduct research into unmet legal needs in the region, so these could be addressed in the future.

“People living in remote areas of central Queensland have very little access to professional legal advice, so this funding will help service a pressing community need,” Mr Shine said.

“The State Government also provided financial assistance of $29,000 to this project last year, so this grant takes our total commitment to $69,000.”

Mr Shine said the Banana project was among 35 initiatives to be funded this year from the Legal Practitioner Interest on Trust Accounts Fund administered by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to enhance community legal services and education.

“These grants will help to level the legal playing field for some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people in our society, including victims of crime, people with disabilities, Indigenous Queenslanders, young people and refugees,” he said.

“The grants will provide almost $1.7 million in total for a wide range of worthwhile projects across the State.”

“Many of these other grants will support regional and State-wide initiatives that also benefit the people of central Queensland.”

1 August 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350 kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au