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The second federal budget for 2022 has detailed additional resourcing for various justice initiatives, as well as cuts in certain legal expenses.
In the first budget for the Albanese government — the first for Labor in almost a decade — Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) said that the budget “begins the difficult task of repairing the budget and ensures fiscal policy does not add to inflationary pressure”.
To this end, the Albanese government said that it had identified $28.5 billion in budget improvements over the four years to 2025–26, including $3.6 billion in savings from external labour, advertising, travel and legal expenses.
Efficiencies in A-G’s Department
The budget papers note that the government is set to redirect savings of $15.3 million to fund other initiatives across the Attorney-General’s portfolio.
The savings that were identified include: $8.9 million over two years from 2022–23 from the deferred establishment of the National Coronial Centre, pending the outcomes of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and $6.4 million over four years from 2022–23 (and $1.8 million per year ongoing) from the abolition of the Native Title Respondent Scheme.
These savings, the budget argued, “will offset the government’s election commitments and realign expenditure to support government priorities”.
Moreover, the government will redirect $50 million over two years from the reversal of Round 7 of the Safer Communities program, which was funded but not announced in the 2022–23 March budget.
“This funding will offset the government’s election commitments and will also be redirected to fund other initiatives across the Attorney-General’s portfolio to realign expenditure to support other government priorities,” the papers said.
“This measure was identified as part of the spending audit, which has focused on the quality of spending, uncommitted funding, duplicative measures and reprioritising existing funding towards higher priority initiatives and budget repair.”
Additional resourcing for A-G’s portfolio
The Albanese government has pledged almost $60 million over four years for various offices and institutions falling under the A-G’s Department, including $31.8 million for the Australian Human Rights Commission, $22.7 million for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (to help it digitally manage evidence), and $5.5 million for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to investigate and respond to the Optus data breach.
The government will also establish a taskforce within the Attorney-General’s Department to scope options to establish a federal judicial commission, the budget papers said, with costs to be met from within the existing resourcing of that department.
Funding for royal commissions
The Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme is set to be provided with $30 million, while an additional $15.5 million will be allotted in 2023–24 for the extension of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
For the latter inquiry, the budget papers noted, the government will also continue to support eligible witnesses to participate in the royal commission through extending legal advisory services and financial assistance arrangements. Commonwealth representation before the royal commission will also be funded, the budget noted, with costs to be met from within the existing resourcing of the A-G’s Department.
Anti-Corruption Commission and related offices
As reported last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC are committing $262 million over four years for the establishment and ongoing operation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Related to the establishment of this commission are the following funding promises:
$12 million over four years will be provided to community legal centres in NSW and Queensland, for the purposes of aiding fire and flood-affected Australians in accessing timely legal assistance.
First Nations justice
The Albanese government has promised $99 million over four years from 2022–23 to support improved justice outcomes for First Nations peoples, including:
Respect@Work
Elsewhere, the budget provides $42.5 million over four years to implement its response to recommendations of the Respect@Work report, including:
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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