Law Society President Jennifer Ball praised the billion-dollar overhaul of the Out of Home Care (OOHC) system as a pivotal step towards providing stability and future success for children in care.
“We welcome the billion-dollar overhaul of OOHC which, in combination with the extra funding to hire and keep caseworkers, and by increasing the Foster Care Allowance, helps these children to build on their strengths,” Ball said.
The NSW Government has confirmed this includes a 20 per cent increase to the Foster Care Allowance, the first real increase in 20 years.
The Budget also dedicates substantial funds to “Closing the Gap” initiatives for Indigenous children and youth, expanding access to early childhood education and supporting improved high school results.
“The Law Society has long argued that providing opportunities to Indigenous people to participate in education, housing and employment enables them to build fulfilling lives and to contribute to safer communities,” Ball said.
She emphasised that these programs contribute to “eliminating crime before it starts” by fostering education, housing, and employment opportunities.
The budget allocates $33.4 million to therapeutic approaches to reducing recidivism for individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system—a measure welcomed by the Law Society.
However, Ball stressed the need for equivalent funding for legal assistance services like Legal Aid NSW and the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT to match the increased allocation for prosecutors.
“Extra prosecutors will create extra demand in the criminal justice system,” Ball warned. “Without adequate legal advice, defendants are more likely to represent themselves. This is likely to have adverse effects for court caseloads, and increasingly crowded remand facilities.” Despite this caution, the Law Society acknowledged the Budget’s commitment to the “delivery of legal assistance under the National Access to Justice Partnership” and looks forward to further details on this funding.
In addressing the pressing issue of housing affordability, Ball commented on the Budget’s “creative approach,” specifically the $1 billion ‘revolving’ Pre-sale Finance Guarantee scheme, which she believes could significantly boost housing supply. However, she urged vigilance, recommending that the Building Commission NSW and the Independent Commission Against Corruption collaborate to monitor, identify, and address potential quality and corruption risks within this scheme.
Ball welcomed the additional funding directed to the Building Commission NSW and the ICAC, reiterating the Law Society’s readiness to offer its expertise to the Government to ensure the effective implementation of these programs and mitigate any potential risks.
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