Скачать или смотреть How to contact Victoria Legal Aid? – Managing Director Bevan Warner on The PI Law Show

A highlight from Victoria Legal Aid's Managing Director Bevan Warner on an episode of Nowicki Carbone's 'The PI Law Show' that aired at 8 p.m. Monday 12 September 2016 on c31. On the program Bevan discussed important issues surrounding legal aid and our Means Test Review.

Find out more about our Means Test Review https://yoursay.vla.vic.gov.au/

Transcript:

Vivienne Ryan:
So Bevan, if someone is sitting there watching this program tonight, what would you say to them in order to be able to access you and get further information about what next steps might be available to them if they need representation but don't have the funds to do it?

Bevan Warner:
Well, first of all, if you're in a crisis or you've got a real legal problem today, please call our free call number, 1300 792 387. You'll find some assistance there. I would welcome you going to the Your Say component of our website and telling us your story about who has missed out, what happened to you. If you saw something about Legal Aid that could be improved, tell us what it should be.

John Karantzis:
Okay, Bevan. Legal Aid - Victorian Legal Aid had a few issues a couple of years ago about funding, for lack of a better word, criminals. That was pretty controversial at the time, wasn't it?

Bevan Warner:
Well, it was, but it's part of our role and part of a role that we don't shirk from. It's in the community's interest for crimes to be solved, and that includes charges being preferred and trials being conducted and made closure for both victims and accused people and their families about those proceedings, and Legal Aid has an important role in that system.

John Karantzis:
Victims have rights and I guess offenders have rights also, and they've got entitlements to, if they want to appeal matters, they can.

Bevan Warner:
Our justice system is based upon the principle of innocent until proven guilty, and the burden of proof exists on the state, and without a strong criminal defence fraternity, we wouldn't be enjoying the quality of life that we take for granted.

John Karantzis:
Of course.