Justice Grants Help Level the Field for the Disadvantaged

Financially-disadvantaged community members, people with a disability and young people will be the major beneficiaries of grants from the Bligh Government to help level the legal playing field in Brisbane and its surrounds.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today announced $194,700 funding for New Farm’s Caxton Legal Centre, $126,800 for the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH), and $100,000 for Queensland Advocacy.

“The Caxton Legal Centre funding includes $155,000 to help disadvantaged members of the community with consumer and credit law problems gain better access to free legal services,” Mr Shine said.

“The centre also aims to increase the number of solicitors who will perform this work free of charge, or pro bono, for clients suffering financial hardship.”

Mr Shine said additional funds of $39,700 would also enable the centre to provide an updated resource for young people who have been caught up in the criminal justice system.

“The booklet ‘The Citizen and the Police’ provides a guide to young adults about their legal rights and responsibilities when dealing with police,” he said.

“It was first published in 1985 and the centre will now be able to ensure the content reflects changes in the law since then to help educate young people and reduce negative involvement in the justice system.”

Mr Shine said QPILCH’s funding would progress two initiatives to improve the access to pro bono legal services.

“One grant of $77,000 will be used to improve and coordinate the pro bono legal referral schemes of the Queensland Law Society and the Bar Association of Queensland,” he said.

“There is increasing demand from disadvantaged members of the community for civil law services and this initiative will provide one port of call for these types of applications.

“This funding will pay for a solicitor to coordinate the schemes, as well as other staff, training, travel, office, administrative and incidental expenses.”

A further $49,800 will help QPILCH re-establish a project to support pro bono work in rural, regional and remote communities.

Mr Shine said Queensland Advocacy’s grant will establish a police and court support program in the Queensland Police Service’s Metropolitan North region to help ensure access to justice for people with a disability.

“Funds will help recruit, train, deploy and advise volunteer support people who will attend police interviews and court appearances with victims, suspects or defendants and other witnesses with a disability,” he said.

“Additionally a network of volunteer lawyers will be recruited to act on behalf of suspects with a disability.

“Volunteers will be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide emotional support to victims, suspects or other witnesses during police interviews and the court process.

“A central phone contact line will be available to police, legal practitioners, court administrators and the public.”

Mr Shine said the grant was among 28 initiatives funded this year from the Legal Practitioner Interest on Trust Accounts Fund (LPITAF) which is administered by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to enhance community legal services and education.

“These grants will help 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.

“Grants range from $15,000 to $155,000 and will provide more than $1.8 million in total for a wide range of worthwhile projects.”

Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273