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New legal service for Victorians who have faced discrimination
Date : 23 Feb 2012
Media release
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) are launching a new legal service targeted at helping low-income and disadvantaged people with issues of discrimination and harassment.
The Equal Opportunity Legal Service will be launched by the Victorian Attorney-General, the Hon Robert Clark MP, tonight as part of VLA’s ‘Insight’ series of public forums on legal topics.
The new service has been developed by VLA and PILCH, and will provide free advice and legal help to people who are involved in a discrimination or harassment complaint.
The service will address a gap in the current system, where those more likely to experience discrimination often find it difficult to access legal help.
‘It takes a lot of courage to speak out against discrimination and until now many people brave enough to make a complaint have had limited support,’ said Kristen Hilton, Director of Civil Justice, Access and Equity at VLA.
‘The person making a complaint usually can’t afford a lawyer, and may be up against an organisation or employer that can comfortably afford legal representation,’ said Ms Hilton.
‘There’s often a power imbalance in discrimination matters,’ said Fiona McLeay, Executive Director of PILCH.
‘The people who are most likely to be discriminated against are those who have a disability, don’t speak English well or are otherwise disadvantaged or vulnerable.’
In December 2011, the Victorian Government provided $1.45 million over the next three years to establish the Equal Opportunity Legal Service.
It will help unrepresented people who attend the Anti-Discrimination List at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as well as giving information, advice, and representation for those who need it. The private legal profession will also accept referrals to assist people on a pro bono basis through the PILCH scheme.