Fed ALP to fund environment legal services

Labor says it will restore federal funding for Environmental Defenders Offices if it wins government in the May election.

Environment legal offices that offer services for free will again receive federal funding if Labor wins this year's national election.

The opposition is promising $14 million over four years for nine Environmental Defenders Offices around the nation.

The centres provide free environment-focused legal advice and representation for individuals and groups in public interest environmental cases.

The service has been running since 1985 and had been funded by successive federal governments, but this stopped under former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott.

"Thanks to donations, community support and some state government funding, EDOs have managed to survive - but only just," Labor environment spokesman Tony Burke said on Monday.

"A Labor government will ensure their ongoing existence is secure."


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Published 25 March 2019 7:08am
Source: AAP


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