George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lazarus, for raising that issue. It is a very important issue indeed, and I have got some information that I can provide to you. We have recently commenced a new National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services. Under the terms of the national partnership agreement, legal aid funding will increase from $207.95 million in 2015-16, the first year of the agreement, to $219.941 million in 2019-20.

There has been some reallocation within the various funding envelopes between states and as between legal aid commission and community legal centres, so there are some legal aid commissions and some community legal centres who are getting more and some who are getting less. That is what happens when you negotiate a new agreement and you make adjustments.

If I may say so, with respect, Senator Lazarus, the right figure to look at is the overall total of the Commonwealth's investment which is, as I have said to you, will increase over the life of the national partnership agreement. Over the next five years, the Commonwealth's total commitment to legal aid commissions, community legal centres and Indigenous legal assistance services will total more than $1.6 billion.

Senator Lazarus, you asked about the issue of domestic violence. In the Women's Safety Package, which the Prime Minister announced last September, there is an additional $15 million for legal assistance services separate from the funding I have already mentioned that is provided under the national partnership agreement. That provides support for 12 new domestic violence units and four new health justice partnerships. (Time expired)