Disaster Legal Helpline
Disaster Legal Helpline
We recently made submissions to two inquiries relating to the 2019–20 Victorian bushfires.
Our submissions to the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season and the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recommend recognition of the importance of effective and co-ordinated legal assistance as part of disaster recovery, and emphasise the need for this to be adequately funded and resourced.
‘The evidence we’ve given to these inquiries highlights the crucial role of co-ordinated legal assistance to reduce the impact of disasters and support the recovery of affected people and communities,’ said Rowan McRae, Executive Director, Civil Justice, Access and Equity at Victoria Legal Aid and Disaster Legal Help Victoria spokesperson.
‘Our recent experience helping people impacted by the Victorian bushfires tells us that to prepare for future disasters, we need proper funding and resources for existing services to meet increased legal need, manage legal volunteers and ensure the legal sector is co-ordinated in its response.’
As with many disasters before, the legal assistance sector banded together after the recent bushfires to provide free legal help to people in need through Disaster Legal Help Victoria.
As at 17 April 2020, Disaster Legal Help Victoria has, in response to the recent Victorian bushfires:
We saw an outpouring of support from the Victorian legal profession following the bushfires, with hundreds of lawyers across the state volunteering their time and expertise to help those impacted.
‘Providing on-the-ground assistance would not have been possible without volunteer lawyers, including local lawyers and lawyers from across the state. We believe investing in the recruitment, training and management of volunteers is essential for Disaster Legal Help’s services to have the greatest impact in future,’ said Rowan.
‘We have also seen the value of co-ordination through Disaster Legal Help, ensuring legal services across the state are sharing information, making appropriate referrals and working together to ensure people receive free disaster legal assistance.
‘A range of legal problems can emerge after a disaster and if left unaddressed, they tend to lead to other social problems and can spiral out of control. It’s important that free, high-quality and co-ordinated legal assistance is available to help resolve these issues as they arise.’
Read Disaster Legal Help Victoria’s submission to the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season or the accessible Word version.
Read Disaster Legal Help Victoria’s submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements or the accessible Word version.