A bill to change the legal aid system and save $138 million over four years was introduced to Parliament today.
Justice Minister Simon Power announced the proposed changes in April and said today the current system was unsustainable, with expenditure rising from $111m in 2006/07 to $172m in 2009/10 - an increase of 55 per cent.
"Officials had forecast that if we didn't take action this growth would result in a $402m gap in legal aid funding over five years," he said.
"I want to make it very clear up front that the changes will not affect cases involving vulnerable parties, care and protection of children, and serious criminal matters."
The Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill will make 10 changes to the scheme, including tightening the merits test for family cases, adjusting the special circumstances test, re-introducing a user charge of $100 for family and civil cases and introducing compulsory repayment orders.
