RIVERLAND COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES REINSTATING FULL TIME FACE-TO-FACE ASSISTANCE

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1 RIVERLAND COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES REINSTATING FULL TIME FACE-TO-FACE ASSISTANCE

2 2036 WILL MARK OUR STATE S BICENTENARY By the time our State turns 200 years old, I want South Australia to be a place of prosperity. Planning and delivering on my vision for a better future starts now. This policy is just one part of our plan to deliver a clear and responsible pathway to recovery and success. See where it fits in below 1.0 GROWING OUR ECONOMY 2.0 THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEM 3.0 BEING A HEALTHY STATE 4.0 STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES 5.0 BUILDING OUR STATE 6.0 ENSURING SAFETY AND JUSTICE 6.3 Ensuring that justice is efficient and accessible, and that victims of crime are supported 7.0 PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT 8.0 EMBRACING OUR UNIQUE CULTURE 9.0 RUNNING AN EFFICIENT AND STABLE GOVERNMENT

3 We will reinstate a full-time presence for community legal services in the Riverland so people in the region will have access to in-person assistance when they need it.

4 THE PROBLEM After providing free legal advice and expertise for nearly 20 years, the Riverland Community Legal Service was forced by the Weatherill Labor Government to close its doors on 30 June In its place, the Southern Community Justice Centre has been tasked with providing community legal services to the Riverland and Mallee with significantly less funding and an office based at Christies Beach, more than three hours drive from the Riverland. The replacement service travels once a week to Berri and once a month to Waikerie, Morgan and Lameroo in the Mallee but this is an inadequate substitute for the previously funded Riverland Community Legal Service which had a full-time office based in Berri, conducting between face-to-face appointments with clients per week. The Riverland Community Legal Service previously provided outreach visits to Morgan, Waikerie, Cadell, Karoonda and Pinnaroo, and also offered a free duty solicitor service at the Berri Magistrates Court on days when Legal Aid Solicitors were not funded to attend. When Riverland residents have urgent issues, they now have to drive more than three hours to access face-to-face legal advice. Additionally, these centres were a great base for newly qualified lawyers wanting to get experience out of university and for student work experience. The Legal Services Commission of SA annual report highlighted a high proportion of disadvantaged residents in the Riverland population demographic, classing the area under the category of most disadvantage. Given the limited funding allocated to the current service to provide community legal advice in the Riverland and Mallee, the demand will not be met, which will put further strain on other community services.

5 THE STATE LIBERAL S PLAN We will reinstate full-time community legal services in the Riverland. If elected in March 2018, a Marshall Liberal Government will reinstate a full-time, on-theground legal community service operating in the Riverland. This service will be located centrally in the Riverland and will provide services for the Riverland, Mallee and Mid Murray. Many people seeking to use the community legal services have cases that are complex in nature and need in-person assistance to fully understand what they are going through. This policy means people in the Riverland, Mallee and Mid Murray will be able to access community legal services in the region when they most need them.

6 A Liberal Government will ensure people in the Riverland do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres to access face-to-face community legal services. Steven Marshall, State Liberal Leader

7 If you would like to provide feedback on our policy or learn more about our plan, please get in touch via: The Office of Steven Marshall MP Parliament House - North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Phone: steven@stevenmarshall.com.au Web:

8 marshall2036.com.au