A Law Council of Australia pre-election questionnaire has shown that neither of the major political parties has plans to improve the quality of legal services in rural areas post-election. It seems that only the Greens have shown any willingness to consider measures to encourage more legal practitioners to work in rural areas.
The questionnaire asked political parties to consider a wide variety of issues facing the Australian legal profession including the recruitment and retention of rural lawyers, according to a report in the New Lawyer. On this issue, both Labour and the Coalition said that they would be unwilling to provide lawyers with incentives or bonuses to tempt them into the under-represented rural regions.
It's disappointing news for the LCA, which has accused parties of lacking commitment to the legal profession. Its president, Glen Ferguson, told RollOnFriday “both major parties appear to be more interested in playing politics rather than addressing the major policy issues of concern and importance to Australian lawyers and to Australians generally.” It seems that access to law just isn't asvote grabbing important as rural health or national broadbrand, both issues addressed by the major parties.
No joy for asylum seekers either. According to the LCA website, neither of the main parties was willing to make a commitment to addressing LCA concerns over the treatment of asylum seekers, especially in terms of increasing access to legal advice and assistance for those seeking asylum in Australia.
Of course if the 100,000 extra voters (courtesy of Get Up! getting up on the Electoral Act) are all in rural areas, then we may soon see a different approach.
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The questionnaire asked political parties to consider a wide variety of issues facing the Australian legal profession including the recruitment and retention of rural lawyers, according to a report in the New Lawyer. On this issue, both Labour and the Coalition said that they would be unwilling to provide lawyers with incentives or bonuses to tempt them into the under-represented rural regions.
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It's disappointing news for the LCA, which has accused parties of lacking commitment to the legal profession. Its president, Glen Ferguson, told RollOnFriday “both major parties appear to be more interested in playing politics rather than addressing the major policy issues of concern and importance to Australian lawyers and to Australians generally.” It seems that access to law just isn't as
No joy for asylum seekers either. According to the LCA website, neither of the main parties was willing to make a commitment to addressing LCA concerns over the treatment of asylum seekers, especially in terms of increasing access to legal advice and assistance for those seeking asylum in Australia.
Of course if the 100,000 extra voters (courtesy of Get Up! getting up on the Electoral Act) are all in rural areas, then we may soon see a different approach.