Community Legal Centres Queensland welcomes the $14.4 million investment in community legal centres announced in today’s State Budget.
Community Legal Centres Queensland Director, Rosslyn Monro, said the investment will provide vital financial support to the state’s 32 community legal centres.
“At a time when Queensland communities are being hit hard by cost-of-living pressures, access to free legal assistance is more critical than ever,” Ms Monro said.
“People come to community legal centres for help accessing basic human needs like shelter, safety from violence, and financial security.”
The funding includes a $12.4 million funding boost for 2024-25 along with $2 million to assist with replacing the Community Legal Assistance Services System (CLASS).
A further $441,000 has been included for ongoing costs associated with replacing CLASS from 2025-26.
“This is a much-needed funding boost for community legal centres and we thank Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath for her support,” Ms Monro said.
“We have had many conversations with the Attorney about the funding for the sector and we look forward to continuing these conversations as the negotiations for the new national partnership agreement get underway.”
Ms Monro said the next challenge for Queensland community legal centres and the wider legal assistance sector was securing ongoing increased funding as part of the next five-year legal assistance partnership agreement.
“With the State Election coming up in October, we urge the State and Federal Governments to finalise the next agreement in a timely manner,” Ms Monro said.