Vulnerable residents falling through cracks
‘‘ WE ARE ALWAYS SAYING WE NEED MORE FUNDING – IT IS NO SECRET.
KATRINA POTTER
JUSTICE experts are pushing for more funding to stop vulnerable Downs and south-west Queensland residents falling through the legal cracks.
Toowoomba, Pittsworth, Millmerran and Oakey magistrates handled about 13,200 criminal and civil cases last financial year, the Magistrates Courts of Queensland Annual Report shows.
A total of 7789 adult defendants and 512 children faced 16,768 charges in 2016-17.
Magistrates also dealt with 2243 breaches of bail, probation and suspended sentences; 209 civil claims, 1341 domestic and family violence order cases; and 1125 child protection order actions.
TASC senior lawyer Katrina Potter said while there was significant support for Toowoomba residents, people living in Warwick, Dalby and Roma were severely hampered by a lack of free or low-cost legal services.
She said regional and rural residents often self-represented and were unaware of all their legal rights and obligations, which could cause them harm down the track.
“For example, a farmer might consent to a domestic violence order and not have any idea this will impact their ability to keep weapons,” Ms Potter.
“We are always saying we need more funding – it is no secret. “Rural, regional and remote people, particularly the vulnerable residents, have to deal with distance, a lack of technology and if they don’t have a lawyer they can see face-to-face they just won’t get their needs met.”
The State Government needed to invest more money in community and low-cost legal services, said Bill Potts, whose firm represents clients in our region.
“We build bridges, we build roads, we build tunnels but why don’t we spend that kind of money on the justice system?” the deputy president of the Queensland Law Society said.
“We have people being denied justice – they are being convicted or they can’t appeal properly because they are being denied access to a system that favours those who have the resources for representation.”
The Queensland Government said it had invested millions in rolling out specialist courts and resourcing support services.
This included providing $85.1 million for Legal Aid and passing on Federal Government funding to community legal centres, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Yvette D’Ath said.