Funding carrot for local legal eagles

Federal Labor is holding out a funding carrot to Geelong’s community legal service.
A source said the party would announce a commitment for Barwon Community Legal Service later this month ahead of July’s election.
The promise follows claims from the legal service that it was set to lose more than $80,000 a year in federal funding.
The shortfall would cost 400 prospective clients access to the service’s free legal aid, it said.
Executive officer Nick Hudson said the service was already turning away 1200 people a year.
Corio MP Richard Marles visited the service’s Geelong West offices on Tuesday 31 May as he campaigned to retain his safe seat.
He faces a challenge from Liberal candidate Richard Lange, a marketing executive with a dairy-based operation in Geelong’s northern suburbs.
Former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons has expressed interest in running for Corio but has yet to confirm whether he will nominate as an independent.