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The Law Society of South Australia has called on the government to seize this year’s state budget to invest in areas of significance to the community.
In its state budget submission, the Law Society of South Australia has argued that this year’s budget presents a significant opportunity for the government to affirm its commitment to fostering a society that prioritises and provides for its “most vulnerable” citizens.
One of the most pressing issues addressed in the Law Society’s state budget submission is the need for the government to increase funding and rethink how resources are allocated within the child protection system.
While there is a general agreement on the need for increased funding in crisis situations, the Law Society said that “there needs to be far greater investment in prevention and early intervention” to address the issue at its root effectively.
The Law Society also stressed that child protection legislation, which is intended to serve the “best interests of children”, must be a priority for the government.
However, they pointed out that effective laws alone aren’t enough; these initiatives must be “backed by the resources” to truly bring these objectives to life.
Due to South Australians’ paramount challenges in accessing justice, the Law Society has called on the government to ensure this “longstanding issue” is prioritised in the forthcoming state budget.
The Law Society has indicated that this issue extends beyond the realm of “underprivileged South Australians” and is, in fact, a significant concern that affects numerous “working people” throughout the state.
The submission emphasised the challenges “particularly vulnerable” individuals residing in regional areas face.
To enhance support for these individuals and ensure they receive the legal services to which they are entitled, the Law Society has emphasised the necessity for additional funding to community legal centres.
This funding would enable these centres to “provide face-to-face appointments with vulnerable clients, provide working conditions to attract sufficient staff, and provide staff with the necessary trauma and cultural sensitivity training to handle complex matters”.
Although South Australia’s justice system functions with “integrity, objectivity and diligence”, the Law Society pointed out that several of the state’s court and tribunal facilities are “simply not fit for purpose”.
In a survey conducted last year, members of the Law Society said the state’s courts had “waiting rooms with poor lighting and airflow”, “unsafe sections”, “cramped courtrooms”, and “poor disability access”.
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Grace Robbie
