The board of embattled law firm the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has defended itself amid suggestions the organisation is unable to do its job.
NAAJA has been in turmoil for several months, rocked by instability in its management, an exodus of lawyers and a moratorium on new cases.
Last year its former chief executive brought an unfair dismissal case against the agency, airing allegations of corruption and bullying in the federal court.
Since Priscilla Atkins left NAAJA in late 2022, the agency has had three different CEOs and made headlines when its most senior solicitor suddenly "ceased employment" in October 2023.
It has also faced a mass exodus of lawyers, with the shortage becoming so severe in November last year its Alice Springs office stopped taking on all new criminal matters.
The moratorium – which was due to end at the start of this year but has since been extended twice – has forced many vulnerable residents in Central Australia to represent themselves in court, because they cannot secure a lawyer.
NAAJA speaks out against 'ongoing attacks'
In a statement released on Friday, NAAJA said it was "disappointed to see ongoing attacks being made on the organisation, which are simply not true".
The organisation said it was on track to resume its full youth legal practice – which was suspended in November last year – by taking on new clients "within weeks".
The firm added this would be "closely followed" by the resumption of adult matters, starting with clients in custody.
In the statement, NAAJA said it would work with private Darwin-based firm Territory Criminal Lawyers to provide lawyers for unrepresented defendants in the Alice Springs prison.
The organisation said it had also entered agreements with several legal firms to provide short-term lawyers, as well as partnerships with Victoria Legal Aid and the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to recruit lawyers on secondment.
Its ranks have been bolstered by interstate barristers on short term contracts, in both Darwin and Alice Springs, for several months.
"As the only Territory-wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led legal service, NAAJA simply must succeed," NAAJA principal legal officer Jared Sharp said in the statement.
"That's why the board and management have been working overtime in recent weeks to address structural challenges and the concerns of our funders."
Agency's funding could be at stake
NAAJA is currently contracted to receive more than $80 million over five years from the federal government under the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP), which is due to expire in 2025 and currently under review.
However earlier this week, the federal attorney-general's department announced it had amended NAAJA's funding arrangement to allow the NT government to redirect the agency's funds to other organisations, such as the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission.
The ABC understands NAAJA was informed of the change to the NLAP agreement and given a chance to argue its case to maintain funding.
As discussions between the government and NAAJA continue, no funds have yet been redirected to NT Legal Aid.
"We are greatly concerned by the current service reductions in Alice Springs," a spokesperson for the federal attorney-general's department said in a statement.
"In the short-term, it is critical that necessary actions are taken to restore services in these areas."
A spokesperson for NT Attorney-General and Justice Minister Chansey Paech said he was working closely with Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to "reach a resolution" on the matter.
"NAAJA has been unable to deliver the legal services for which it is contracted," Mr Paech's spokesperson said in a statement.
"Minister Paech's priority is to ensure Aboriginal people have access to legal services."