THE Peninsula Community Legal Centre in Frankston will receive a $300,000 state government grant to be able to continue employing a lawyer to help people facing financial stress due to fines.
The grant — part of a $3.45 million distribution of taxpayers’ money under a Community Legal Centre Family Violence — was announced by state Attorney-General Martin Pakula last Wednesday (6 December).
Peninsula Community Legal Centre has provided legal advice to more than 8000 cash-strapped or vulnerable clients since opening 40 years ago.
The legal centre will also be able to continue family violence duty lawyer services at Frankston Magistrates’ Court thanks to the grant and set up a partnership with Peninsula Health to help people impacted by family violence.
“We’re proud to be delivering this funding to the Peninsula Community Legal Centre because it will help to improve access to legal services in our community and deliver more support to those who need it most,” Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said.
Community legal centres across the nation faced a funding crisis earlier this year when the federal Liberal National Coalition government cut funding but the decision was subsequently reversed in May by federal Attorney-General George Brandis.