MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 26 May 2026
The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) welcomes the ACT Government’s commitment to sustained investment in culturally safe legal assistance as part of the 2026-27 Budget.
The ALS will receive almost $5.5 million over four years contributing to the delivery of criminal law services as well as legal services supporting children and families in the child protection system in the ACT.
“We welcome the ACT Government’s strengthened commitment to investing in the specialised, culturally safe legal services that Aboriginal communities deserve,” said Sharif Deen, ALS Acting CEO.
“This co-contribution to baseline funding for the ALS will allow us to reach more community members with life-saving legal support and meet currently unmet legal need where our federal funding falls short.”
A major national review of government funding for legal services recommended that governments significantly increase investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. The Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020-25 found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s needs are higher than all other priority groups under federal legal assistance funding arrangements.
“Ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to high-quality and culturally safe legal assistance is a key measure to address structural racism in the legal system and contribute to Closing the Gap,” Mr Deen said.
“As the over-representation of Aboriginal children and adults in ACT prisons has increased, so too has the need for our legal support. This ongoing funding will help us to sustain our services at a time when they are more crucial than ever.”
