NSW: Legal Aid overspending: report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
NSW: Legal Aid overspending: report

SYDNEY, Dec 16 AAP - People seeking legal help may be left high and dry this financial
year following overspending by the New South Wales Legal Aid Commission.

A NSW Auditor General's report released today said although the commission had tightened
its purse strings it had still overspent in the last financial year.

In the first two years of a three-year agreement for commonwealth law matters, it spent
$68.2 million of the total funding of $93.3 million.

The commission has already taken steps to cut back on expenditure, resulting in the
refusal rate for family law matters jumping significantly to 41 per cent from 27.5 per
cent.

In another move to reduce spending, the commission has reduced the number of cases
referred to private practitioners, which has in turn led to an increase in the number
of people representing themselves.

About 28 per cent of litigants were unrepresented in hearings in the High Court in
the past financial year while in the Family Court about 35 per cent of cases had at least
one party unrepresented.

"The lack of representation caused delays in the court hearings and increased cost,"

the Auditor General's report said.

"To help mitigate a litigious approach to family law, the commission has an obligation
to focus on alternative dispute resolution procedures, and provide do-it-yourself divorce
courses and kits."

AAP jw/tsm/cjh

KEYWORD: LEGAL AID

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