Page 2060 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 8 September 1992
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I am not sure that even the Government understand what the differences are, but their intention is quite clear. Their intention is to do away with the Bill put forward by Mrs Carnell and substitute their own. Presumably they see some merit in that, but the fact is that this ordinary and reasonable man in the street is a bit confused, because he does not know the difference between the two Bills. He cannot figure out why the Government have put forward their own. Under those circumstances I think that that ordinary and reasonable man in the street ought to be satisfied that somebody has analysed the two Bills to see what the differences are. Somebody can then come back to this Assembly and tell not only him but also us what the differences are. I think that Mr Moore's proposal is an eminently sensible one, and I am sure that it will satisfy that ordinary and reasonable man in the street that this Assembly is taking this matter very seriously indeed. I support the motion.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 2) 1992
Debate resumed from 25 June 1992, on motion by Mr Connolly:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR HUMPHRIES (9.20): The Opposition would like to put on record, first of all, its view about the entire question of legal aid in the ACT and its very great support for the concept of legal aid and its continuation as a device to further accessibility to the law for ordinary citizens, particularly those in lower socioeconomic groups. The Legal Aid Commission is a vital institution to the smooth operation of the ACT's legal system. Without the availability of legal aid to ordinary citizens, it would be quite impossible to say that the ACT or indeed any community enjoyed proper access to the law and a fair legal system. Legal aid has become, in my view and in my party's view, an essential part of a just society.
I am the first to acknowledge that there are tremendous pressures on the legal aid system in our community, as indeed there are in many other communities in Australia. Enormous pressure is placed on those who work in the Legal Aid Office - pressure generated by the huge amount of work that they have to do and by the limited resources at their disposal with which to do it. There is a tremendous requirement for efficient and careful administration, because public money is involved. Yet there is a need to cover a great deal of ground, and I think that many lawyers in the Legal Aid Commission do much more work than some of their counterparts in the private sector do.
Madam Speaker, there is, of course, a great need for accessibility in our legal system. The Legal Aid Commission goes some way towards providing that. My colleague Mr Lamont will recall that we have before us in the Legal Affairs Committee an inquiry into the accessibility of the legal system and justice generally. That matter is very much a part of this whole process. Measures to strengthen the effectiveness of legal aid in the Territory are greatly welcomed, and I see this Bill as a measure in that direction. We must be more aggressive in the financial management that is pursued by public bodies such as the
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