Legal Aid funding cuts put vulnerable women and children at risk

Women and children experiencing domestic violence in NSW will lose access to family law services due to the Abbott Government’s new funding arrangements.

Legal Aid NSW chief executive Bill Grant told The Australian, the cuts of $16.7 million over five years would result in slashing more than 6600 grants to assist representation in court or cutting more than 15,000 resolution conferences to help solve family disputes.

According to Grant, about 55 percent of the family law clients represented by the agency in NSW had fears for their safety and the welfare of their children, while 20 percent had taken out apprehended domestic violence orders.

The Federal Government’s planned moves have drawn a rebuke from NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton.