Representatives from the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre’s legal services division have met with newly elected Member for Maryborough, John Barounis MP, as part of a coordinated sector visit to Parliament House organised by Community Legal Centres Queensland (CLCQ).

The meeting, held on 19 November, brought together HBNC’s Legal & Professional Services Manager, Raymond Hill, alongside representatives from LawRight, ADA Law and CLCQ.

The visit aimed to introduce Queensland’s new parliament to the breadth of support provided by community legal centres across the state.

Mr Hill said the discussion with the new MP centred strongly on the local legal issues affecting people in the Maryborough and Fraser Coast region.

"This meeting at Parliament House was an important opportunity for Community Legal Centres across Queensland to introduce our work to the new parliament. It was encouraging to speak directly with the local member for Maryborough, John Barounis MP, and outline how our services support some of the most vulnerable people in his electorate," Mr Hill said.

During the meeting, Mr Hill highlighted the work of both the generalist Wide Bay Burnett Community Legal Service (WBBCLS) and HBNC’s Seniors Legal and Support Service (SLASS), emphasising the growing need for elder abuse prevention and intervention.

"I took the opportunity to outline the critical role of the Seniors Legal and Support Service, particularly given the growing older population in the Maryborough and Fraser Coast region,” Mr Hill said.

“Elder abuse is a rapidly-escalating issue, made worse by economic pressures and financial exploitation by family members. SLASS operates in only a handful of locations across Queensland, and there is a strong case for expanding this program to better protect older people state-wide."

Mr Hill said Mr Barounis appeared particularly interested in understanding the local impact of the legal services’ frontline work.

"Mr Barounis showed genuine interest in the practical work we’re doing on the Fraser Coast,” Mr Hill said.

“While state-wide services were also represented in the meeting, his focus was clearly on how HBNC’s legal programs are supporting people in his own community. We appreciated the opportunity to highlight the real issues we see on the ground every day."

He also acknowledged the recent increase in baseline funding for the region’s generalist community legal service.

"I thanked Mr Barounis and his government for the increased five-year baseline funding to our generalist Community Legal Centre. Stable funding is essential to ensure we can continue providing free, accessible legal help to people who would otherwise have nowhere to turn,” Mr Hill said.

A key theme raised in the discussion was law and order, which was a major focus of the new MP’s election platform.

"While law and order was a major theme of Mr Barounis’ election campaign, I stressed that the most common issue we see at the legal centre is domestic violence. It affects individuals, families and the broader community, and remains the dominant driver of demand for our services,” Mr Hill said.

HBNC continues to work closely with partners, government representatives and sector organisations to advocate for accessible, community-focused legal assistance across the Fraser Coast and wider Wide Bay region.

Learn more about HBNC's legal services