A person accused of a crime in the Northern Territory will no longer be able to access legal aid and those on bail facing criminal offences, including children as young as 10, will also no longer be covered, part of “drastic action” taken by Legal Aid NT director Catherine Voumard to save money outlined in a letter to lawyers.
The letter sent on Monday to private lawyers who engage in legal aid work stated the agency was projecting an end of financial year deficit and that while it had “worked hard to try to identify efficiencies”, it could not save the “significant amount required except by drastic action”, forcing the board to make cuts to services.
As long as there will still be enough money for the old firm to conduct publically funded, baseless, 4 week murder trials ?
I wonder how victim aid funding is going.
Wait Wait!!
Do I now have to seriously think about my actions now that I know I may not have access to free legal services??
Thats a win for the community !!
I bet NAALAS continues though, yet another widening gap in favour of a minority.