Per capita Commonwealth legal aid has droped 27 per cent since 1996-97 - report

26/03/2010

The legal aid system is still struggling to recover from funding cuts introduced in 1996-97, and requires a rescue package in this year’s federal budget, according to a report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

"This reports shows that Commonwealth funding for legal aid has declined by 12 per cent in real terms from 1996-97 to 2008-09", said Alan Kirkland, chair of National Legal Aid, which commissioned the report.

"Per capita Commonwealth expenditure on legal aid has decreased by a staggering 27 per cent", he said.

View the National Legal Aid media release>

**26 March 2010 **