Support petition to save the Aboriginal Legal Service from funding cuts

6 March, 2015

5 March 2015

Support petition to save the Aboriginal Legal Service from funding cuts

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) today urged people to sign a petition to the Prime Minister to save the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT from Federal Government budget cuts.

NSWALC Chair Craig Cromelin said implementing the funding cuts of 20 percent of the organisation's annual budget would result in job losses, possible closure of offices in NSW and a reduction in front-line services.

"Today, more children are being removed from their parents than during the Stolen Generation with more than 15,000 Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.

"The Aboriginal Legal Service is a vital not-for-profit organisation with a team of dedicated workers committed to keeping our children safe and breaking a tragic cycle that too often sees kids ending up in the juvenile justice system and on to adult prisons.

"This is clearly unacceptable and governments must work with Aboriginal organisations to put our kids on a positive pathway.

"Closing the Gap requires more than political goodwill - it must be backed with the appropriate resources.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council urges the Prime Minister to take into account the devastating impact of these budget cuts and reconsider the Government's decision to cut funding to essential front-line services that are desperately needed to protect our children," Mr Cromelin said.

To sign the petition, visit

https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-of-australia-save-the-als-to-stop-more-kids-being-taken-away-and-ending-up-in-jail

Media contact: Andrew Williams 0429 585 291

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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