PIAC’s response to the NSW Department of Justice consultation paper, Justice for everyday problems: Civil Justice in NSW, emphasises the importance and need of providing appropriately resourced legal advice, assistance and financial counselling services to assist disadvantaged and marginalised people in the community to resolve their credit/debt and tenancy issues. Based on the casework experience of HPLS providing legal assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness PIAC considers that reliance on online information/advice and dispute resolution facilities will not be feasible for many of the most disadvantaged people in the community, and will place them at risk of further difficulties and escalation of their legal problems.
