❓ A Member of Parliament raises concerns about the resourcing of the Employment Law Centre of WA and access to legal representation for low-income individuals facing employment issues. The Minister for Commerce responds, affirming sufficient funding and adequate access.
AnsweredQoN 343Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EMPLOYMENT LAW CENTRE
343. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Minister
for Commerce:
I refer to a complaint received by a
constituent in Belmont regarding the resourcing of the Employment Law Centre of
WA. The constituent required assistance with a dismissal from his employment
but was not able to obtain assistance from the Employment Law Centre.
(1) If a person's
employment falls under the jurisdiction of the Western Australian Industrial
Relations Commission, what bodies can they approach for free legal assistance?
(2) Does the Minister for Commerce
believe that the Employment Law Centre is sufficiently funded?
(3) Does the
Minister for Commerce believe that access to legal representation is adequate for
people on low incomes facing employment issues?
343. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Minister
for Commerce:
I refer to a complaint received by a
constituent in Belmont regarding the resourcing of the Employment Law Centre of
WA. The constituent required assistance with a dismissal from his employment
but was not able to obtain assistance from the Employment Law Centre.
(1) If a person's
employment falls under the jurisdiction of the Western Australian Industrial
Relations Commission, what bodies can they approach for free legal assistance?
(2) Does the Minister for Commerce
believe that the Employment Law Centre is sufficiently funded?
(3) Does the
Minister for Commerce believe that access to legal representation is adequate for
people on low incomes facing employment issues?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Without full
details of the circumstances of the member's constituent, I am not in a
position to explain why he was unable to obtain legal assistance from the
Employment Law Centre. As I expect the member is aware, the Employment Law
Centre is an independent body and it alone determines the criteria for the
assistance it is able to provide. I can inform the member that Legal Aid WA
provides some limited assistance and advice in respect of general employment
law matters. However, Legal Aid WA does not provide representation for clients
appearing before the WA Industrial Relations Commission.
(2) Yes.
(3) Yes.
some notice of the question.
(1) Without full
details of the circumstances of the member's constituent, I am not in a
position to explain why he was unable to obtain legal assistance from the
Employment Law Centre. As I expect the member is aware, the Employment Law
Centre is an independent body and it alone determines the criteria for the
assistance it is able to provide. I can inform the member that Legal Aid WA
provides some limited assistance and advice in respect of general employment
law matters. However, Legal Aid WA does not provide representation for clients
appearing before the WA Industrial Relations Commission.
(2) Yes.
(3) Yes.
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