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ACT Government joins campaign to restore Legal Aid funding across nation

A campaign to restore funding to Legal Aid services across the country, has received new support from the ACT Government.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell has joined state and territory counterparts who signed a joint letter to Federal Attorney-General George Brandis calling on him to reverse cuts to the sector.

The reduction in funding announced last year was predicted to remove about $15 million from legal assistance programs over four years.

"We can not bear, or accept cost shifting by the Commonwealth that cuts funding to the most vulnerable in our community," Mr Corbell said.

"It has cut legal aid funding to our Legal Aid commissions, our Aboriginal legal centres and our community legal centres.

"And we are sending a clear message to the Federal Attorney-General to increase funding and support, and protect legal assistance for our most vulnerable."

In the ACT, significant funding cuts have been felt at the Women's Legal Centre, the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre, the Environmental Defenders Office and community legal centres.

The Legal Aid Commission warned last year it was struggling despite a $2.4 million boost for high-profile inquiry in to David Eastman's murder conviction.

Mr Corbell says Legal Aid services have been left under enormous financial pressure to meet rising demand.

"Whether it's the impact on Legal Aid, meaning it cannot provide the same number of grants of legal assistance as it did in previous years, our community legal centres turning people away who need legal advice or representation for Indigenous people in the justice system — these are the direct and very real impacts on ordinary people."

A spokesman for Senator Brandis says he is considering the letter.