Young people and newly arrived migrants and refugees living in Wyndham will be unable to access the help and support of specialist lawyers if the federal government doesn’t reverse its decision to cut funding for the Wyndham Legal Service (WLS).
The Werribee-based service last year signed an agreement with the former Labor government, providing it with $120,000 a year for three years as part of the Legal Assistance Funding program.
The program was aimed mainly at helping legal centres improve access to justice services in outer urban areas.
The WLS has since been told it will not receive years two and three of the funding, leaving it $240,000 out of pocket.
The funding is due to stop on June 30.
Manager Denis Nelthorpe said that without the funding, the service would be forced to stop its legal assistance programs for young people and refugees. WLS would also lose two of its seven lawyers.
The programs provide about 1000 young people each year with support to avoid losing their jobs because of their court appearances, while refugees and new migrants can learn about tenancy, driving and insurance laws.
“Specialist programs will come to an end and it makes no sense,” Mr Nelthorpe said.
“These are preventative programs that are about keeping people in work and housing.”
Mr Nelthorpe said WLS used 50 per cent of the funding for its youth programs because there were no other youth lawyers in Wyndham.
“What it means is that for the first time in nearly a decade, there will be no specialist legal services for young people in Wyndham,” he said. “If they can’t see a lawyer and get advice, they will end up with various things on their record that will impact on their ability to get a job.”
Lalor MP Joanne Ryan has raised the issue in Federal Parliament, urging Attorney General George Brandis to reverse the decision.
“Wyndham Legal Service serves the most vulnerable in our community,” she said.
The government has suggested that a new funding arrangement could be considered as part of the May budget.
