annual report 08-09 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

ACCESS TO
JUSTICE
16
AIMS
• To develop and pilot models for addressing unmet
legal need
• To explore and promote innovative ways of funding
and progressing public interest law
• To identify, challenge and prevent systemic barriers
to justice
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Mental Health Legal Service Project rolls out four
pilot models for improving the delivery of legal
services to people with mental illness
• Law for Non-Lawyers course delivered as two
public courses and as a customised pilot course for
Aboriginal workers and community members in
Casino
• Street Care, the first advocacy and advisory group
of homeless and formerly homeless consumers, is
established to advise the Homeless Persons’ Legal
Service
• Reform of the on-the-spot fine system in NSW
achieved with the introduction of Work and
Development Orders
PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL PRACTICE
PIAC continues to test mechanisms to extend access to public
interest legal procedures.
One such mechanism that is under-used and somewhat
untested is the Federal Court’s cost capping provisions
pursuant to Order 62A of the Federal Court Rules (Cth). PIAC
successfully obtained a 62A Order limiting costs in a Federal
Court discrimination matter: Corcoran v Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd
[2008] FCA 864. This is the first time that costs have been capped
in a human rights or discrimination matter in the Federal Court.
Costs were capped at $15,000 and $35,000 respectively for PIAC’s
two clients, allowing them to continue with the litigation with
knowledge of the maximum financial risk involved.
PIAC has made various submissions to government and to
parliaments to improve access to public interest legal procedures
and to promote the development and funding of community legal
centres and legal aid provision in Australia.
Class action controversies … PIAC training in progress.
PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009