Aboriginal Law Bulletin; Department of Aboriginal Affairs --- "National Inquiry into Access to Legal Aid" [1983] AboriginalLawB 29; (1983) 1(9) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 5

• National Inquiry Into Access To Legal Aid

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National Inquiry into Access to Legal Aid

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs Report on Aboriginal Legal Aid recommended cooperative arrangements involving Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS's), and the other legal did agencies to ensure that Aboriginal legal aid needs are met.

To enable proper consideration of this recommendation the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding, established a professionally based national inquiry into the most effective ways of ensuring Aboriginals have adequate access to legal aid.

The inquiry is being undertaken by Mr Joe Harkings, former Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Legal Aid Commission and former Director of the Australian Legal Aid Office, in terms of:

• the respective roles and responsibilities of Aboriginal Legal Services and other Australian Government, State, Territory and private legal assistance programs;
• means of improving co-ordination and co-operation among these agencies to ensure that Aboriginals requiring legal assistance can readily obtain it;
• the resources necessary to enable Aboriginal Legal Services to provide a full and adequate legal service for Aboriginals in the areas of their responsibility.

Aboriginal people have access to free legal assistance through the ALS's and access to means-tested assistance through Australian Government and State supported programs.

• Australian Legal Aid Office;
• State and ACT Legal Commissions;
• State Public Defenders Office (in Queensland and N.S.W.);
• Community Legal Centres.

Most Aboriginal people use ALS's in preference to alternative legal services. The cater for his preference, 18 ALS's with 47 separate offices have been established and are directly funded by the Australian Government.

During his inquiry, Mr Harkins will be visiting all head offices of ALS's throughout Australia and, as far as possible, all branch offices. He has already visited the ALS's in Queensland and is currently preparing an interim report on his observations in Queensland for Mr Holding. Once the interim report is completed Mr Harkins will visit the Northern Territory.

Completion time for the inquiry is somewhat difficult to predict accurately. However, it is expected that the inquiry will be completed around the end of March 1984.

Mr Harkins will present his report and its recommendations to Mr Holding for his consideration.

Eds. This news item was provided by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.