Victoria Legal Aid

Rowan McRae Executive Director of Civil Justice Access and Equity spoke to Patricia Karvelas on ABC 774 about our second test case against Centrelink’s robo-debt process. Our client Deanna only found out about her alleged robo-debt when her tax return was taken. ‘Our clients want these questions answered’. Read more about the case – https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/it-felt-like-guilty-until-proven-innocent-new-test-case-against-centrelinks-robo-debt-system

Heidi Deason, Manager of our Mallee region office, spoke to ABC Mildura on 4 March 2019, about the Cross-border justice report. The report outlines the complex and unique challenges in accessing justice for people living along the borders of different states. Read the report http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/working-together-to-improve-access-to-justice-for-cross-border-communities

On 15 October 2018 Damian Stock, Managing Lawyer of the Economic and Social Rights Team, was interviewed by Rafael Epstein on ABC Melbourne about a new hardship program introduced to help Victorians with road-toll debts.

Victoria Legal Aid's Lucy Geddes, Lawyer Mental Health and Disability Law Program, was interviewed on ABC’s 774 Drive program about the decision for all charges to be dropped against her client Francis. Francis became a Victoria Legal Aid client after NDIS-funded disability service providers withdrew services from him. The 20 year old, who has intellectual disability and autism ended up spending a total of 180 days in custody because there was nowhere suitable for him to go on release. He was isolated from other prisoners, spending any time outside his cell in handcuffs. We are continuing our call for governments to work together and establish a clear and reliable framework which will ensure that NDIS participants have access to their funded disability supports when the market fails Read more about this important case here: http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/all-charges-dropped-against-our-ndis-client-francis

Listen to our Managing Lawyer, Economic and Social Rights, Damian Stock being interviewed on ABC 774 Drive, on 29 May 2018, about a recent Supreme Court case challenging an eviction notice. More information: https://www.domain.com.au/news/iranian-refugee-served-eviction-notice-takes-case-to-the-supreme-court-20180528-h10m3w/