2020-21 Pre-Budget Submission

04/02/2020

The Association has today made a submission to Treasury on priorities for the 2020-21 Federal Budget. Available here.

Increased funding and resourcing of Legal Aid, legal assistance and Australia’s family law system must be a key priority in the 2020-21 Budget to improve access to affordable and timely justice for adults, children and families.

The Association acknowledges the devastating personal and financial cost of the ongoing bushfire crisis for many Australians. The Association appreciates that immediate crisis management, support and the recovery effort rightly require priority funding and will place unanticipated pressure on budget forecasts. Nevertheless, the Association has urged the Government and Treasury not to postpone investment in the priorities outlined in this submission, as many of the legal assistance services and justice infrastructure considered will also be impacted by, and face increased demand in the wake of, the bushfire crisis. In addition to funding immediate recovery services for the bushfires, the Association encourages the Government to prioritise funding and investment in related justice sectors.

The Association’s submission outlines the business case for:

a. further funding of Legal Aid and legal assistance; b. resourcing the family law system, prioritising, consolidating and resourcing a specialist, stand-alone family court; and c. increased funding of the Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties Scheme.