News and Events

Millers Point residents have complained of feeling ‘bullied’ and ‘harassed’ and continue to fear losing their homes in wake of the state government’s announcement last week that more properties were being sold. Photo: Wikepedia.commons

More than 150,000 of Australia's most vulnerable people are turned away each year from community legal centres, new figures have revealed.

RLC CEO Jo Shulman takes part in ABC AM's report on the future of funding for Community Legal Centres. Jo Shulman is fighting to keep RLC's doors open in the midst of a funding crisis. May 2015 - ABC Radio 702

RLC CEO Jo Shulman speaks with National Indigenous Radio Service about what RLC's funding crisis will mean for Indigenous communities in Redfern and surrounding service areas.

May 2015 - ABC 702 Radio RLC CEO Jo Shulman spoke with ABC 702 Radio's Linda Mottram on Mornings this morning on RLC's funding crisis.

May 2015 - Australasian Lawyer Samantha Woodhill The 2014 Productivity Commission inquiry into access to justice recommended an additional $200m in funding for community legal centres, but the latest federal budget will force centres to endure further funding cuts.

17 May 2015 - Sydney Morning Herald Michaela Whitbourn When a Sydney restaurant refused to pay Chris Tao for gruelling work as a kitchen hand, he wasn't sure where to turn for legal advice.

The Redfern Legal Centre says it may be forced to turn away up to 500 vulnerable and disadvantaged clients a year as it faces major cuts in government funding.

'One of the nation's busiest community legal centres is on the verge of cutting half its staff.'

Women's rights advocates want a full overhaul of the way governments deal with domestic violence to stop the large numbers of women being killed. So far this year 34 women have been killed in Australia - including two women in New South Wales who were allegedly killed by their partners in the last week. Activists say governments need to prioritise anti-violence programs and give them the funding they need. They say domestic violence tears at the fabric of society.