The Finocchiaro Government has announced an extra $3.9 million in funding for Legal Aid NT this financial year, but an internal email sent to staff warned the agency will still have to find savings, including being more stringent in who was provided legal aid, while hoping the government will increase its base funding for next financial year.
NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said in a statement Legal Aid NT had been allocated an additional $3.9 million that will be re-prioritised from the Attorney-General’s Department’s current budget, set to be provided in December, on top of the $1.33 million in extra funding provided last month.
Would like to know how much it would cost to be able to reduce the number of remand prisoners by 50%.What is the issue? Is it not enough courts, magistrates and associated staff? Is it not enough lawyers or Legal Aid? Are the lawyers able to access their clients? Can interpreters be accessed?
Is it all of the above? Where does the money need to be spent?