Cash splash for legal service

GREATER Dandenong residents now have improved access to legal advice and support.
Springvale Monash Legal Service and Casey Cardinia Community Legal Service will each receive an extra $400,000 over four years, Attorney-General and Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus, Bruce MP Alan Griffin and Holt MP Anthony Byrne announced last week.
The Springvale service helps 4500-plus clients each year with family law, domestic violence cases, workplace rights and accident claims.
“Access to legal advice and support is essential for a fair go under the law,” Mr Dreyfus.
Bruce MP Alan Griffin said the extra money would make a difference to local people.
“It makes access to justice more affordable and puts high-quality professional advice within reach,” he said.
Hotham MP Simon Crean said the service was a community asset “and will now be able to employ more frontline lawyers and staff to help with family law, mortgage stress, employment law, child protection matters and consumer law”.
This funding is part of an extra $33.5 million over four years for community legal centres across Australia and is already included in the budget.
The new funding for community legal centres is in addition to the $32 million already provided annually under the Australian Government’s Community Legal Services Program.