Thursday, 29 August 2024

Ministers statements: Victoria Legal Aid

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:20): I rise today to update the house about the important work being done by Victoria Legal Aid and its community legal partners in supporting victims of crime across our state. Recently I had the pleasure of joining my colleague in the other place the hardworking Kathleen Matthews-Ward to visit the Victoria Legal Aid office in Broadmeadows.

A member interjected.

Enver ERDOGAN: Yes, born and bred in Broady. For over 18 years Victoria Legal Aid’s Broadmeadows office has been providing a wide range of legal advice and supporting the growing and diverse communities in the north-western suburbs. Victoria Legal Aid also delivers the government’s Victims Legal Service in partnership with community legal centres and Aboriginal legal service providers. The victims legal service provides free legal advice and assistance to victims of crime in Victoria, supported by over $7.3 million in government funding. Victims of crime often have specific needs and challenges in accessing justice. Cross-organisational support by community legal organisations can be the key support they need, and they are exactly the services that are being provided.

At the Broadmeadows office I had the pleasure of meeting with Victoria Legal Aid civil justice director Lucy Adams and the Broadmeadows team. Not only did I get to witness firsthand how the victims legal service does its important work, I also heard how the service is making a real difference to the lives of victims. It was also an opportunity to meet with representatives from delivery partners, including Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Djirra, Women’s Legal Service Victoria and the Northern Community Legal Centre. I want to express my gratitude to everyone working at Victoria Legal Aid in Broadmeadows and right across our state with our community legal partners. Their commitment to supporting victims of crime plays a pivotal role in contributing to a safer and more just Victoria.