Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says that after several months of negotiations and lobbying, a new community legal service is now available for the South Burnett community.
Mrs Frecklington said “The Advocacy and Support Centre” (TASC), based in Toowoomba, is offering a fortnightly legal outreach at the Kingaroy Courthouse.
“People in the South Burnett have never had direct access to community legal services and this gap in services is something that needed addressing and was a high priority for our region, especially for our most vulnerable,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“In fact, the South Burnett and Wide Bay had been noted as the two regions with the greatest unmet need in regards to community legal services.
“The South Burnett District Law Association had also identified this need and wrote to me with suggestions of bringing TASC to the South Burnett,” she said.
Caroline Cavanagh, President of the South Burnett District Law Association said it had been a concern for some time amongst members of the profession that there is an absence of a community legal service to rural and regional areas.
“We wrote to Deb advocating for this type of service, to help address the gap in access to legal representation in our region,” Ms Cavanagh said.
Deb said that negotiations had been underway since February with representatives from Community Legal Centres Queensland and TASC to highlight the need and request an outreach service for Kingaroy.
“We received the good news in May that TASC would begin a face-to-face fortnightly clinic in Kingaroy. This began on 14th July,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The Kingaroy Courthouse has made a room available for the clinic which will offer general legal advice for family law, domestic violence issues, parenting issues, general civic law and advice around disability (the service is unable to provide court representation). I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the TASC Team and thank them for coming on board to help people in our region,” Deb said.
To find out if the TASC team can help you, please call 4616 9700.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with South Burnett District Law Association President, Caroline Cavanagh. Their lobbying has helped secure a new community legal service for the South Burnett.
