MAKING IT EASIER TO ACCESS JUSTICE IN THE ACT

Attorney General, Simon Corbell, has launched a new practical guide to the ACT justice system, designed to increase the accessibility of legal services to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guide to law and justice services in the ACT clearly lists and details all the legal services that are available in the Territory.

"Often those in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who are disadvantaged struggle to access information that can help them navigate their way through the legal system," Mr Corbell said.

"This guide is an important tool to address the over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system because it provides valuable, and easy to understand information, to those who may not know their rights when facing problems with the law."

Mr Corbell was joined by representatives of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and community legal sector to launch the guide, and to celebrate United Nations International Day of Indigenous Peoples.

The guide has been developed by ACT legal service providers to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people understand the wide range of services that are available if they:

need legal advice;
have been a victim of crime;
are involved with the criminal justice system; or,
want to make a complaint.
"Last week the Government signed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement which sets out a solid commitment to reduce the representation of ATSI people in the ACT's legal system," Mr Corbell said.

"That signing was an important step forward, but this is an equally as important step to ensure that complex information about legal rights gets through to the people who actually need it.

"The ACT Government is committed to providing access to justice for all Canberrans, and this document is another way that disadvantaged members of society can get efficient and effective advice to navigate the legal system."

The guide will be available on the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety website http://www.justice.act.gov.au/ , from ACT legal services, or by contacting the Aboriginal Justice Centre on (02) 6162 1000.

Media Contact:

Patrick Cronan 6205 0401 0432 758 224 patrick.cronan@act.gov.au