Page 1305 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994

MADAM SPEAKER

I HEREBY TABLE THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE REPORT OF THE

STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN

THE A.C.T.

IN 1992 THE ASSEMBLY DIRECTED THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL

AFFAIRS TO INQUIRE INTO ACCESS TO JUSTICE. ITS AMENDED TERMS OF

REFERENCE WERE:

(1) INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• WHICH SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS ARE DISADVANTAGED AND

GIVEN ADVANTAGE UNDER THE CURRENT LEGAL SYSTEM;

• HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE LEGAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE SOCIO

ECONOMIC SPECTRUM;

• HOW CAN THE LEGAL SYSTEM BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE;

• ARE LEGAL CHARGES REASONABLE COMPARED TO OTHER

PROFESSIONS;

• ANY OTHER QUESTION THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS RELEVANT.

(2) THE COMMITTEE TO REPORT TO THE A.C.T. LEGISLATIVE

ASSEMBLY BY THE LAST SITTING DAY OF JUNE 1993.

THE COMMITTEES REPORT WAS TABLED IN THE ASSEMBLY ON 17 JUNE

1993 AND TODAY THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING TO THAT REPORT.

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