Attorney-General
Media Release
Attorney-General meets with Legal Aid NT and uncovers another Labor mess
9 October 2024
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby has met with Legal Aid NT today to help fix up yet another mess left behind by the former Labor government.
"It is extremely concerning to hear that as it stands Legal Aid NT proposes to reduce services unless requests for additional funding are met given they continually raised these concerns with the former government who did nothing," she said.
"In our meeting today, Legal Aid NT outlined how this problem has been years in the making when former Attorneys General Natasha Fyles, Selena Uibo and Chansey Paech were in the hot seat.
"The CLP Government is committed to ensuring that our justice system is fit for purpose, efficient, and delivering high quality legal services to Territorians.
"The former Labor government also committed to reviewing legal aid services over two years ago, yet after agreeing to Terms of Reference, promptly sat on their hands.
"Today, the Chief Minister's Department has been tasked to work with the Attorney-General's Department to fix up yet another Labor mess that risks giving Territorians poorer outcomes."
Ms Boothby said Legal Aid NT delivered a critical service, not just for offenders who need representation, but also in achieving outcomes for victims.
"I had a positive meeting today with Legal Aid NT," she said.
"We value Legal Aid NT and know they are about to get even busier under the CLP Government's strong on crime agenda set to be passed in the first sittings of Parliament, starting next Tuesday."
Legal Aid NT is funded by both the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments.
In addition to fixing this mess, the CLP Government will continue to advocate at a national level for needs-based funding for the Territory.
This week, Ms Boothby also met with the acting NAAJA CEO, Anthony Beven, who confirmed NAAJA's services are now fully operational.
It is expected that NAAJA's return to full operations will assist in decreasing the demand for Legal Aid NT.
"We're only six weeks into government, and the CLP is already being forced to fix the issues that Labor created over the past eight years," Ms Boothby said.
