ACT Welcomes Decision To Make Legal Aid Payments Public
Wednesday 30th Jun 1999
Patricia Schnauer
Media Release -- Justice
ACT Justice Spokesman Patricia Schnauer today welcomed the Ombudsman's order for the Legal Services Board to make
public the ten highest paid legal aid lawyers.
Patricia Schnauer has led the campaign to get the legal aid budget under control and has been working to get the
information released. She had also written to the Minister of Justice asking that the top ten legally aided law firms
also be made public.
"There are serious questions that I have raised in relation to the administration of legal aid. We must have
transparency and accountability in the system that is difficult while it is a closed shop.
"The Minister of Justice has indicated that he is working to get the legal aid budget under control. To do this
properly, he must first adopt the recommendations of the Legal Services Board to give the Board better control over
legal aid spending.
"Secondly, the Minister must undertake a review to tighten up on the eligibility criteria for legal aid. Those who have
a genuine case must be able to qualify for legal aid, but we also need a proper system put in place to eliminate any
rorts occurring.
"In terms of accountability for Government expenditure, lawyers should not be treated any differently from others
receiving taxpayers money," said Patricia Schnauer.
ENDS