MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has hit back at Attorney General John Rau’s claims legal services have improved since the closure of the South East Community Legal Service.
He has particularly been angered by claims people in the region will be better serviced over the phone than by face-to-face appointments at the now defunct office.
Providing free legal assistance to thousands of people throughout the region for 17 years, the service was forced into closure last month after being denied funds from the State Government to continue operating.
Since the start of July, the Southern Community Justice Centre (SCJC) has begun to provide assistance for those in need.
But the service is still in the process of securing a permanent site in Mount Gambier.
During question time in parliament last week, Mr Rau confirmed face-to-face services in Mount Gambier will be demand driven.
“The amount of face-to-face service that your constituents and the Member for Mount Gambier’s constituents require will determine the amount of time that we have actual legal officers there providing that advice,” he said.
“What has happened is that in the process of studying the way the community legal centres were delivering their services, we discovered among other things a great many people who are going to the centres were visiting for a service they could have received over the telephone and not had to bother turning up.
“Many of those people were given a quicker and more efficient service by actually using the telephone – for those people, wherever they live, the new service is better.”
Mr Bell said he was appalled by these comments, stating face-to-face meetings are of much greater benefit to the community.
“If you are distressed and require assistance for a legal matter, a kind and compassionate face goes a long way to alleviate the stress that you may be feeling,” he said.
“The South East Community Legal Service assisted everyone who walked through their doors, no matter how large or small their matter was.”
Mr Rau has agreed to a review before the end of the year to asses how the SCJC is operating in the region.
“I actually take my hat off to the local government authorities in the South East because they have been trying to work in a cooperative fashion with the State Government to get the best value out of a very meagre deal that was imposed on both of us by the Commonwealth in their budget – not this one just gone, the one before,” Mr Rau said.
“I am very happy, and I say this particularly to members whose constituents are in the Riverland or in the South East, and I am keen to work with you, your local government authorities and anybody else to make sure the service you get there is the best possible service that your community can have within the constraints that have been imposed on us.”
Mr Bell said he would continue to lobby for further assistance for the people of Mount Gambier and they should not avoid seeking help from the service if in need.
“I encourage constituents throughout the Limestone Coast who may have legal issues, even though they may find it uncomfortable or daunting to speak to someone over the phone,” he said.
He said people could contact the Legal Services Commission Helpline between 9am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday on 1300 366 424 as the first point of contact.
