1 September 2009
Media Statement

Durable legal aid reforms are needed

Labour is keen to engage in the process of reforming the legal aid system, which must be underscored by a long-term commitment to access to justice, say Labour’s justice spokespeople Lianne Dalziel and Charles Chauvel.

The pair were responding to a discussion paper on legal aid released today.

“The current system needs a significant overhaul - a process which will require measured and considered debate,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“Short-term fixes won’t solve the problem. What is most important is that the review ensures good quality access to justice by those who need it.

“The proposal to bulk-fund lawyers to deliver an agreed number of services has the potential to strip out administrative inefficiencies, and I will be giving this further detailed consideration," Lianne Dalziel said.

"The public defender system, put in place by Labour, also has significant potential, including to benchmark the performance of the criminal legal aid system. We think there is merit in extending the public defender system further,” Charles Chauvel said.

"We are encouraged by the progress of the review so far, and we intend to make a submission on the discussion paper released today that sets out our position in greater detail. At the appropriate time we will make that submission public."

ENDS

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