CLWA’s State Budget Priorities 2026-27: Delivering Access to Justice outlines the challenges and what investment is needed to deliver access to justice in WA.
More West Australians than ever have legal problems and can’t afford legal help. The rising cost of living, family and domestic violence increases, and the housing crisis are driving demand and increasing the complexity and urgency of legal problems.
Community legal centres (CLCs) and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) are here for them, providing free legal help to people in need. Getting legal help in time stops problems getting worse – keeping people in work, families in their homes and kids safe.
Community legal services (CLS) provide great value for investment; by solving people’s legal problems and helping to address broader community needs, they reduce pressure on courts and justice services.
We are calling for State Government commitments across six key areas for a fairer WA, where everyone can access legal help when and where they need it:
- Better access to legal help for people in need
- Building a fair and secure workforce
- Securing support for tenants
- State Government commitment to genuine partnership, strengthened services and fair pay for Family Violence Prevention Legal Services
- Investment in a strong peak body
- and three key practical and effective law reform priorities:
- Stronger protections for tenants, including ending no-grounds evictions
- Fairer driver’s licence laws
- A Human Rights Act for WA
You can download the summary of our State Budget Priorities on this page or read the full report here.