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Funding

Legal Aid NSW receives its government funding as a grant from the NSW Department of Justice. The grant comprises income from the NSW Government and the Commonwealth. In addition, income is received from the Public Purpose Fund, interest and client contributions.

Total income for 2018–19 was $349.3 million and expenditure was $374.5 million.

Where our money came from ($M)

Funding received in 2018–19($M)
State appropriation including Commonwealth funding provided under the National Partnership Agreement 257.7
Public Purpose Fund grant 35.4
Other grants 35.3
Acceptance by the Crown Entity of employees’ benefits and other liabilities 11.8
Interest and other sources 9.1
Total 349.3

How we spent our money ($M)

Employee-related expenses 145.6
External legal services 118.7
Grants and subsidies 75.8
Other 34.4
Total 374.5

How we spent our money by program ($M)

Criminal law 184.3
Family law 83.2
Civil law 49.0
Community partnerships 58.0
Total 374.5

Key developments

Our financial result was a deficit of $25.6 million which is $2.6 million less than the budgeted deficit of $28.2 million.

We ended the year with net equity of $26.2 million. Payments of $118.7 million were made to private lawyers, who provide legal aid services to our clients in partnership with Legal Aid NSW. These payments include disbursements for other professional services.