Questions without notice and ministers statements
Victoria Legal Aid
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (14:02): (406) My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, the Labor government provided $341,604 in Legal Aid funding to Environmental Justice Australia in the last financial year. The Victorian taxpayer funded organisation recently appointed Alina Leikin as its principal solicitor. Ms Leikin’s conduct while at the Environmental Defenders Office was slammed by Federal Court judge Natalie Charlesworth in a January 2024 judgement which found she had been distorting and misrepresenting what an Indigenous informant had said and that her actions constituted a form of subtle coaching of other Indigenous witnesses. Attorney, why is the Allan Labor government now funding the salary of an environmental legal activist whose professional reputation has been shredded by a judge of the Federal Court of Australia?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (14:03): I thank Mr Mulholland for his question. I am not familiar with the individual that you have raised, nor am I familiar with any legal contracts or arrangements that she has been engaged for. But there are appropriate mechanisms if people have complaints about the legal profession, and if there is an appropriate complaint that anybody would like to make, that is where you direct it.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (14:04): Attorney, many Victorians are unable to access Legal Aid despite being desperate for legal help. Victims of family violence and people facing jail report being unable to qualify for Legal Aid funding due to a lack of resources. Why does your government fund the legal activism of Environmental Justice Australia at the expense of women fleeing domestic violence in the home?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (14:04): I reject the premise of your question, Mr Mulholland. It is not a decision of mine; I do not dictate to departments which lawyers they should use. That would be incredibly inappropriate. In relation to Legal Aid, there are several funding sources, including state and federal government, that go to Legal Aid. I have a good relationship with them, talking to them regularly about their budget, ensuring that access to justice is provided through VLA to people that need it in Victoria.