Macarthur Legal Centre is overjoyed with State Government decision to provide additional funding

Macarthur Legal Centre is hopeful its vital community programs and services will continue thanks to a multi-million funding commitment from the State Government.

Macarthur Legal Centre director Robert Pelletier has welcomed the government decision to provide $6 million over two years to the state’s 40 community legal centres. Picture: Ian Svegovic.

MACARTHUR Legal Centre director Robert Pelletier is hopeful the Campbelltown-based centre’s vital community programs and services will continue thanks to a multi-million funding commitment from the State Government.

Mr Pelletier has welcomed the government’s decision to provide $6 million over two years to the state’s 40 community legal centres.

The crucial money would fund a shortfall which was due to start in July after the Federal Government announced a plan to cut by 30 per cent its funding to community legal centres in NSW.

Macarthur Legal Centre director Robert Pelletier said it is a fabulous result. Picture: Ian Svegovic.

“The NSW Government said they will make up that cash. This is a fabulous result,’’ Mr Pelletier said.

“We don’t know precisely how the funds will be allocated but we hope to get more information over time because we are finding there are more and more calls for our services.

“This (funding) gives us confidence to maintain our services and employment and to go forward and do more things.’’

NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman said the money would fill the void created by the pending reduction in Federal Government funding to the state.

Community Legal Centres NSW chair Dr Linda Tucker welcomed the decision but noted that increased Commonwealth funding for the centres was as important as ever.

There was fears in 2016 about the future of Macarthur Legal Centre, concerned about Federal funding cuts. Picture: Ian Svegovic.

“This NSW government funding will put an end to planned staff cuts, service reductions and outreach closures at community legal centres across NSW, ensuring that hundreds of people and communities across NSW won’t lose access to the legal assistance they need,’’ she said.

As reported in the Macarthur Chronicle last year, Mr Pelletier feared the Federal funding cuts would devastate the Macarthur Legal Centre’s legal access programs, which he said were already underfunded.

Mr Pelletier feared the centre would be forced to reduce its solicitors from five to three as a result of the cuts.

“We run 15 outreaches and put our solicitors in different areas of need throughout the Macarthur area for a day a week or fortnight,” he said.

“We won’t be able to do that. Our legal services will be devastated. We do a lot with very little.”