Legal centres welcome ‘funding lifeline’ Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au A reversal of “devastating cuts” to funding for community legal centres has been welcomed by federal Isaacs Labor MP Mark Dreyfus. Planned federal government funding cuts that had been planned to take effect on 1 July but federal Liberal AttorneyGeneral George Brandis announced last week the government will provide an extra $55.7 million over the next three years to the legal services sector as part of the 2017-18 budget. About $39 million of that money
will go to community legal centres and $16.7 million to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services. The National Association of Community Legal Centres also welcomed the decision to abandon plans to cut funding to legal centres by about 30 per cent. Mr Dreyfus said any cuts to Peninsula Community Legal Centre funding would “hit the local community incredibly hard”. “It would have resulted in the loss of free legal advice for some of Frankston and Kingston’s most vulnerable residents,” he said. National Association of Community Legal Centres CEO Nassim Arrage said
the announcement is “excellent news for all those people who rely on the help of CLCs every day”. “This funding is a lifeline for a sector that was facing significant cuts,” Mr Arrage said. “The reversal will mean people across Australia will get access to the legal help they were going to be denied from 1 July if the funding cuts went ahead.” Mr Brandis said the grant was the largest ever single commitment on an annualised basis by the federal government to the legal assistance sector. He said it was not a one off, ad-hoc payment. “These arrangements will give the
sector the resources … and certainty they have been asking for.” Mr Brandis said the government was adding $39 million to women’s and domestic and family violence services. “Since we announced the women’s safety package in 2015, public awareness of family violence has escalated dramatically,” he said. “The Women’s Legal Service has been at the forefront of that advocacy. But I also want to, of course, acknowledge and single out Rosie Batty for her leadership in public advocacy of the issue. “The growing public awareness of the issue has seen a parallel increase in
people coming forward needing help.” He said the $39 million over the next three years would go to family law and family violence services to provide “targeted, trauma-informed legal assistance to thousands of women who may otherwise not have received the help they need”. The funding allocation will be finalised with the states and territories under the National Partnership Agreement. “The government has always recognised the essential role of the legal assistance sector in providing access to justice for the most vulnerable Australians,” Mr Brandis said.
Police patrol
Man sought over sexual assault
Sudden impact: An elderly woman’s car smashed into a Thai takeaway store at Langwarrin. Picture: Gary Sissons
Surprise entry at Thai takeaway AN elderly woman’s car crashed through the front window of the My Spice Thai Takeaway at the Gateway Shopping Centre, Frankston-Cranbourne Rd, Langwarrin, Sunday 23 April. Her Toyota Corolla mounted the footpath hitting another car and ending up inside the shop – the second time this type of incident has occurred at the shop in the past five years. Business owner Jenny Giuffre said up to $20,000 damage was caused when the woman, 75, made her unexpected entry at 4pm. “She told police she hit the accelerator instead of the
brake,” she said. “Now, all the front of the shop has to be changed. It’s the second time this has happened to us in the past five years.” Ms Giuffre said she was discussing possible safety measures with centre management, such as having bollards out front. Acting Sergeant Jason Morel, of Frankston police, said no charges would be laid but a review would be conducted. “It was a good result because there were no injuries.” Stephen Taylor
POLICE set up an information caravan at Seaford train station, Friday, in an attempt to glean information about a man who attacked and sexually assaulted a woman in Seaford earlier this month. Sexual Crimes Squad detectives say a 19-year-old woman was walking home from the station along Railway Parade, near Seaford North Reserve, 3.10am, Saturday 1 April. They said she stopped briefly near bushes at a church car park where she was attacked from behind by an unknown man and sexually assaulted. The man ran off in an unknown direction and the woman walked home and raised the alarm. Acting Sergeant Melissa Seach, of police media, said the man had a tanned complexion with brown hair, thin build and an Australian accent. He was wearing jeans with a belt and a dark coloured T-shirt. He has a distinctive mole on the left side of his cheek or chin and small teeth. The victim’s black jeans and a Nike runner were left at the scene and police are keen to speak to anyone living nearby who may have seen items of clothing. Detective Sergeant Rodney Neylan is
Face fit: A digital composite image of a man who may be able to assist with police inquiries into the Seaford assault.
calling on the man to come forward and talk to police. “I appeal to the conscience of the man to make contact with us,” he said. “We are gathering evidence which is being analysed so it is only a matter of time before we identify him and knock on his door.” Anyone with information can submit a confidential report to crimestoppersvic.com.au or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Driver’s costly car impound A SEAFORD man has had his car impounded after being pulled over by Frankston police in Seaford on Wednesday afternoon, 26 April 2017. The grey Toyota Lexcen, with expired registration, was being driven along Railway Parade about 4.15pm. The 63-year-old driver, with a disqualified licence, found himself in more trouble when he returned a positive preliminary breath test. He was taken
to Frankston police station where he returned an evidentiary breath test reading of 0.034 per cent. Police later said that, while the blood alcohol limit for a fully licensed driver is 0.05 per cent, it is zero for anybody else. Unlicensed drivers need to be 0.00 or they can be charged with drink driving. The man’s car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1032.
Trouble hearing? Let us help No sales targets. No commissions. Just award-winning service. rvice. FREE 30 day hearing aid trials. als. At no cost & obligation free. FREE Hearing aids to Pensioners* ners* Pensioners, Veterans, Worksafe & Privates *subject to eligibility criteria through the Australian Pension Scheme.
9708 8626 Suite 1, 7 Davies Ave, Mt Eliza supp m.au support@staytunedhearing.com.au
Robin Tu Accredited Managing Audiologist Frankston Times 1 May 2017
PAGE 7