CABINET has increased the amount of money the Legal Aid Commission will receive which in turn will lead to more of the commission's offices opening up around the country through the Trust Account Amendment Decree.
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said on Wednesday the Prime Minister had said on a number of occasions that access to justice was an important issue for everybody in Fiji.
"Previously, lip service was paid to access justice but very little practical assistance.
"Previously, we had given 50 per cent to the Legal Aid Commission, 25 per cent to judiciary fund, 10 per cent to the Legal Services Commission, 10 per cent to the legal practitioners fund and 5 per cent to the Fidelity Fund.
"After Cabinet approval, the Legal Aid Commission now gets 65 per cent, 10 per cent to judiciary fund and all the others will remain the same."
He said, for example, some people in Rakiraki do not get access to justice because they could not afford the bus fare to Ba.
"They're not even hitting the legal services, so to speak. But you will find that when there are appropriate laws and provisions in place, people will come forth."
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Legal Aid Commission which had opened up offices in Nausori, Ba, Lautoka and Suva, would now be able to open up new offices in towns like Sigatoka, Tavua, Nadi, Rakiraki and Labasa.