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6 U.N.S.W.L.J. 163 (1983)
Legal Centres in Australia

handle is hein.journals/swales6 and id is 169 raw text is: Legal Centres LEGAL CENTRES IN AUSTRALIA BY JOHN BASTEN* REGINA GRAYCAR** DAVID NEAL*** The 1970s saw the birth and growth in Australia of a network of legal centres independent of the government and the private legal profession, a development that has significantly altered the country's legal culture. This article examines the establishment of the legal centres' movement against the changing political climate of the 1970s, describes the centres' structures and operation and outlines the changes they have brought about. I. INTRODUCTION The advent of a Labor government in 1972 heralded a period of great optimism. Within days the reformist Whitlam government had terminated Australia's involvement in the war in Vietnam; expatriate Australians returned from their self- imposed exiles abroad, eager to participate in the new cultural milieu surrounding the Labor government. The reformist mood permeated all walks of life. It came at a time when an unprecedented wave of dissent had emerged in Australia. The Vietnam war had polarised the community. There was growing concern with the plight of disadvantaged groups, and calls for an increased role for government to play in ensuring a more equitable share of what were considered Australia's bountiful resources.' This concern had gone so far as to prompt the McMahon Liberal government to establish a National Commission of Inquiry into Poverty in 1972.2 When Labor came to power, it increased the scope of the Poverty Inquiry and appointed, amongst others, a Commissioner to deal exclusively with Law and Poverty.3 A comprehensive health insurance system (Medibank),4 was estab- lished (and subsequently dismantled), a national no-fault accident compensation scheme,5 and a universal superannuation plan6 were mooted. The government planned to decentralise the operations of government, actively pursuing a policy aimed at regionalising services, not only for the purpose of making them more efficient, but also to fulfil its stated aims of community participation in local decision-making.7 New programmes, with names like the Area Improvement Programme, Regional Employment Development Scheme and Australian 1983

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