Key Issues for the legal profession in the 2026-27 State Budget
On 14 April, the President and Chief Executive met with the Attorney General. Discussion included the Society’s priorities for 2026, and in particular the Society’s 2026-27 State Budget submission, which contains a number of “Key Asks” for funding across priority areas aimed at strengthening the justice system, increasing access to justice, and ensuring that the legal rights of South Australians are protected.
The priority areas the Society has identified for investment include:
- Major court upgrades to significantly improve safety standards and meet the growing demand on the justice system
- Increase funding for legal aid and legal assistance services, particularly in regional areas
- Diversionary and intervention programs to reduce youth crime
- Reduce court transcript costs
Increase the pool of trained court interpreters
- More bail accommodation and remand programs to reduce homelessness and re-offending
- Better resourced and more transparent legislative review mechanisms
- Establishment of a building tribunal
The Society’s call for a dedicated building tribunal, to more efficiently and affordably resolve building disputes, was recently covered in The Advertiser. Read the article.