Labor and the Greens have refused to provide funding certainty for Canberra’s Community Legal Centres following a motion moved by Canberra Liberals Leader and Shadow Attorney-General Elizabeth Lee in the Legislative Assembly today.

In failing to support the motion, Labor and the Greens instead refused to take any responsibility to provide certainty of funding to the ACT legal assistance sector.

“I have brought a very straight forward non-political motion to ensure important organisations like Canberra Community Law receive funding certainty,” Ms Lee said.

“The attitude by the Attorney-General is a disrespectful response to an organisation that provides free legal advice and service to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“What my motion seeks comes after months of pleas from the sector to provide certainty that they will be able to continue vital services to our community.

“There is less than one month to go until funding runs out and for the Attorney-General to refuse to provide assurance; to refuse to provide certainty for the future of vital legal services, is heartless and cruel.

“These are services provided by Canberrans, for Canberrans in Canberra and failing to provide certainty of funding for these shows a complete lack of respect for the work these organisations do,” Ms Lee concluded.