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Aboriginal Law Bulletin

Aboriginal Law Bulletin (ALB)
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Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "VALS Gets Reprieve" [1981] AboriginalLawB 17; (1981) 1(1) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 10


VALS Gets Reprieve

Because of pressing financial difficulties, the seven elected directors of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service decided on 31 July to temporarily close the Service. The move followed a decision by the Service's bank that it was no longer prepared to carry the Service's overdraft.

Since 1975, annual grants to the Service by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs have been insufficient to meet the Service's running costs. Rising legal and administrative costs have compounded the problem. A director of the Service, Ms Mollie Dyer commented: `We have been told year after year by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs that they are extremely sympathetic to our plight, but that there is nothing they can do about it. They have also said that the legal service had acted responsibly and has taken every measure possible to reduce the deficit.'

Following the announcement of the decision to close the Service, the Federal Government decided to provide temporary financial assistance to enable the Service to operate for a further fortnight. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Senator Baume, is to review the financial problems facing the Service.

(The Age. 1.8.81 and 5.8.81)


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