South West Sydney Legal Centre was headed for possible staff cuts and reduced services from July because of the end of federal funding.
But now the State Government has stepped in to rescue the free legal advice centre and its counterparts across the state.
The centre will now have sufficient funding to to offer its services for at least the next two years.
The State Government announced today more than $6 million in extra funding for all NSW community legal centres (CLC) , including the one in South West Sydney, which operates out of Liverpool.
State Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said that “the end of a federal grant on June 30 may have led to staff cuts and reduced services at the South West Sydney Legal Centre.
“The NSW Government has stepped in to ensure total state wide funding does not fall in the next two years,’’ Ms Gibbons said.
“This includes guaranteeing each individual CLC that it will not be worse off financially next year. “The South West Sydney Legal Centre can continue its good work it does for people in our local area.’’
The MP said that the South West Sydney Legal Centre supports the local community and has been providing free legal advice in the region for years.
“The State Government realises the importance of their work and wants to ensure it can continue to help disadvantage people with their legal problems,’’ she said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“This is a great outcome for local people, who rely on CLC lawyers for free services on critical issues such as domestic violence, consumer law and debt.”[/social_quote]
CLCs provide free legal help to about 55,000 people each year at more than 30 locations in metropolitan, regional and rural NSW.
The NSW Government’s funding injection is in addition to renewing in 2017-18 and 2018-19 the $6.4 million it has already committed to CLCs in 2016-17.
