Improving access to justice

The Tasmanian Government is celebrating the beginning of the legal year by announcing $6.1 million in grants for projects that enhance access to justice.
The latest round of the Solicitors’ Guarantee Fund has supported 27 initiatives.

Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, highlighted the significant investment in Tasmania Legal Aid, building on the $4 million delivered in the 2025/26 interim budget.

“There is no doubt that Legal Aid plays an essential role in our justice system,” the Attorney said.

“The $3.5 million grant awarded to Legal Aid will be critical in ensuring Tasmanians have access to high-quality legal information, advice, and representation when they need it most.

“The successful recipients will deliver new and improved legal services, ranging from duty lawyer services in the North West to the development of a peer support rehabilitation model for women with experiences of incarceration and community corrections.

“Our Government is delivering for Tasmania by investing in initiatives that will have positive impacts right across Tasmania’s justice system.”

The funded initiatives deliver a diverse range of programs aimed at improving access to justice, addressing court backlogs and strengthening legal and support services statewide, including:

• To expand duty lawyer services and mental health legal services in the North-West;
• Establishment of a Trial Hub at Tasmania Legal Aid;
• Delivery of a Women at Risk Family Reunification Program by the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service;
• Continuation of the Legal Literacy Volunteers program delivered by the Launceston Community Legal Centre;
• Funding for the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute to review the Associations Incorporation Act 1964;
• Development and maintenance of the Tasmanian Law Library;
• Delivery of tenancy legal services in North and North-West Tasmania by the Tenants’ Union of Tasmania;
• Development of a peer support rehabilitation model for women with experiences of incarceration and community corrections by Engender Equality;
• Establishment of a legal and social services pilot for Tasmania’s LGBTQIA+ community;
• Employment of an Outreach Worker at the Prisoners Legal Service to provide legal and advocacy services to people incarcerated in Tasmania; and
• Continued delivery of the Migration Law Outreach Program by Youth Law Australia.