The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services has partnered with Change the Record to launch a petition for the government to retain the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program
The Program is the only national program that addresses the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system. However, the recent Federal Budget revealed the government's intent to combine the ILAP into a single mechanism, with Legal Aid Commissions and Community Legal Centres.
Cheryl Axleby, co-chair of Change the Record and NATSILS says the decision means walking away from 50 years of commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, claiming that NATSILS will no longer be able to guarantee culturally safe legal services.