On the anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, the peak bodies for Community Legal Centres (CLCs), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) and Family Violence Prevention Legal Centres (FVPLS) call on the Australian Government to end uncertainty about funding and provide direct and adequate levels of Commonwealth funding to legal assistance services.

A group of leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, community and human rights organisations meeting in Sydney today have called for national leadership to address the crisis levels of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and create safer communities.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) has called on the Prime Minister to intervene to prevent funding cuts that the Northern Territory Chief Justice has said will “strike a blow to the heart of the justice system”.

Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) welcome the release of the Productivity Commission’s Access to Justice Arrangements Report which argues against the funding cuts announced by the Commonwealth Government, which are said to be targeted at defunding law reform and advocacy activities, and calls for an annual injection of $200m to the legal assistance sector.

A coalition of national Aboriginal, human rights and campaign organisations from across Australia have today welcomed the release of the 2014 Social Justice Report, and called on governments around the country to implement the recommendations. The broad based coalition is working together to develop new approaches to tackle the unacceptable rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment and create … Read More

Just as this week’s Productivity Commission Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report revealed a shocking increase of almost 60 percent in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates over the last decade, NATSILS are disappointed to hear that the Government has back flipped on its commitment to introduce justice targets as part of the Closing the Gap policy agenda, a move which … Read More

Today, as the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Findings 2014 Report is released, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) call for a new and more effective approach that addresses the underlying causes of crime as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates continue to rise.

Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) strongly support calls by the National Family Violence and Prevention Legal Services Forum (National FVPLS Forum) to have direct funding reinstated.

Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) invite Prime Minister Tony Abbott to match his good intent with firm commitment and action.NATSILS Chairperson, Shane Duffy, said that the Prime Minister has demonstrated his best intent towards addressing the disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples but that what is needed now is turning good … Read More

Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) expressed concern at the Australian Government’s announcement that it will, in all likelihood, renege on an official $15 million funding commitment in the 2013 Budget towards the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (Congress).NATSILS Chairperson, Shane Duffy, said that Congress fulfils a vital role in representing the rights of … Read More