LNP’s 3% budget cut for victims of crime: shame

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine has condemned Lawrence Springborg’s cuts to public sector funding that would directly affect victims of crime.

Mr Shine said that the National’s policy would mean the loss of 170 jobs across the Department of Justice.

“The result would be that victims of crime will have fewer points of contact in times of need,” Mr Shine said.

“It means criminal prosecutors would have less time to consider cases and dodgy scams would not be investigated.

“Mr Springborg seems to think that the Department of Justice is just a building of bureaucrats and he can hack and slash away at jobs without it having an effect on Queenslanders.

Mr Shine said cutting $16 million out of the Department of Justice’s budget to meet Mr Springborg’s target means job cuts and service cuts.

“The end result is not savings – it’s heartbreak and it’s frustration, and it’s aimed squarely at people who have suffered enough,” Mr Shine said.

“Not only are frontline positions under threat, but Legal Aid would lose 28 positions, with further cuts in the Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Office of the Public Trustee.

“Cutting jobs in these organisations would be devastating,” Mr Shine said.

Media Contact: Lisa Taylor on 0488 741 689.