Personal Explanation

Legal Services Commission

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (17:35): Before I move on to another matter, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Today, in question time I was asked a question in respect of Legal Services Commission funding and, in particular, for services for domestic violence victims. There are two matters on which I seek to advise the house; one is that reference to the review of victim support services generally was referred to the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, and she is part of the Attorney-General's Department. There are other persons in the Attorney-General's Department who are reviewing the matter, and she has been consulted in relation to the services that are currently provided. I wanted to be absolutely clear on that.

The second part of that question related to extra funding for the Legal Services Commission of $1 million. I made reference to the Treasurer agreeing that it is something to be supported. I want to be absolutely clear that the Treasurer had not provided the extra money. That was allocated from funds within the Attorney-General's Department. If anyone reading this were to have the impression that the Treasurer was generously giving extra money to the Attorney-General's Department, it may have been misunderstood from that.