Type:	Report
Title:	Legal aid and access to justice
Authors:	Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee
Keywords:	Policy;Indigenous issues;Family law
Year:	2004
Publisher:	Legal and Constitutional References Committee
Notes:	Chair: Nick Bolkus. This is an inquiry report by the Senate’s Legal and Constitutional References Committee on legal aid after 8 years under the ‘purchaser/provider’ funding model, including access to justice issues. Chapter 4 discusses women and family law, and finds the main concerns relate to domestic violence and the failure of the legal system to address it. More men than women received grants of aid and there were fewer limitations on grants for criminal law proceedings than family law, which created gender inequity. Committee’s recommendations include: that a pilot project similar to the Magellan Project be adopted where the legal aid guidelines are changed in cases of domestic violence so as to remove the ‘cap’ on legal aid funding (Recommendation 17); the Commonwealth Government should either provide adequate funding for legal assistance in matters under state/territory law against domestic violence and child abuse; or improve the remedies under Commonwealth law for domestic violence and child abuse (Recommendation 18); that victims of domestic violence should not be required by legal aid commissions to participate in primary dispute resolution (Recommendation 19); and coordinated schemes dealing with domestic violence be implemented in those states and territories where they do not exist and in the Family Court (Recommendation 24). Chapter 5 discusses Indigenous legal services. Some of the recommendations include: the needs of Indigenous women be addressed by improving legal and community services, community education programs, domestic violence support networks and funding models (Recommendation 30); and sufficient funding to Indigenous legal services and Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Legal Services for Indigenous women in family law and family violence matters (Recommendation 31).
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19294
Physical description:	xxxv, 242 p. ; 25 cm.
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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