The Wire

The Coalition’s announcement to cut $42 million to Indigenous legal aid has sparked outrage amongst Indigenous advocacy groups who claim this will drastically impair services. Shadow Treasurer Joe Hokey and Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb yesterday announced the Coalition’s policy costings, which included a 20 per cent scale back of Indigenous legal aid.This means reductions to eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal service organisations across Australia.This move has enraged Indigenous legal service providers, saying it will increase the incarceration of Indigenous people.Opposition Leader Tony Abbott defended the measure, saying it will save on Indigenous bureaucracy and won’t affect front-line services.