TAC acting chief executive Pat Turner said the TAC had been given only three weeks notice that the Legal Service would not receive commonwealth funding, after 42 years of continual operation. 

The contract has been awarded to the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. 

``We are in the process of negotiating a disengagement plan with the Commonwealth as I speak, so we can transition professionally to ensure minimum disruption to our clients, the legal profession and the justice system in Tasmania,'' Ms Turner said. 

``We are unsure how much funding will be provided to us for this purpose.  With less than three weeks notice of the decision we have had an enormous amount of work to do as an organisation.''

Ms Turner said it was culturally inappropriate for Aboriginal people to be represented by an organisation not accountable to Aboriginal people or the TAC. 

``There must be no mistake, this is the first strike against Aboriginal communities across the country- a dangerous precedent has been set to divide Aboriginal people and create internal division and fighting and competition for funds,'' she said.