Media Releases
03/03/2014
Good intentions aren’t enough to close the gap – 3 March 2014
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
20/12/2013
Government cuts support for National Congress – 20 December 2013
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
17/12/2013
Government to defund Aboriginal Legal Services Peak Body and all Law Reform and Policy Positions – 17 December 2013
Federal Government cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services will mean that even more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will not be able to access essential legal services and will further entrench Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as second class citizens in their own country, says the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services peak body.The ... Read More
06/09/2013
Coalition signals 20 per cent funding cut to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – 6 September 2013
Hidden amongst the Coalition’s costings announcement yesterday was a funding cut of $42m to the Indigenous Policy Reform Program, the program which provides funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) across Australia. NATSILS Chairperson, Shane Duffy, said that while NATSILS are seeking clarification from the Coalition as to the full detail of the indicated cuts, if such ... Read More
28/08/2013
Peak health coalition calls for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander justice targets – 28 August 2013
Today the Close the Gap Campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality has launched their platform for key commitments for an incoming Government entitled Building on the Close the Gap platform: Commitments for an incoming government. The plan includes a call for the creation of new justice targets to address the over-imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ... Read More
16/08/2013
Greens launch access to justice election policy – 16 August 2013
Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) welcome the launch of the Greens Access to Justice Policy which calls for a funding increase of 50 per cent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services (ATSILS).
09/08/2013
Labor to add justice targets to Closing the Gap – 9 August 2013
Today’s announcement by Labor to include new justice targets to address the over-imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the Closing the Gap policy initiative has been applauded by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organisations, including NATSILS, have long been calling for the inclusion of justice ... Read More
01/08/2013
NATSILS welcome launch of Greens justice reinvestment policy – 1 August 2013
Following a Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into justice reinvestment earlier this year, which endorsed the value of such an approach to criminal justice in Australia, NATSILS congratulates the Greens on releasing a policy position which builds on this evidence. NATSILS Chairperson, Shane Duffy, said that all Australian political parties and governments need to acknowledge that tough on ... Read More
15/05/2013
$12m funding injection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services in federal budget – 15 May 2013
Today the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) welcome the injection of $12m funding over two years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) around Australia. NATSILS Chairperson, Shane Duffy, said that the new injection of funding recognises the critical role played by ATSILS and the value they add to the legal assistance sector.
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