People's ability to access affordable legal advice on environmental issues has been jeopardised by federal cuts, Environmental Defender's Offices (EDOs) say.
The federal government had announced "without warning" that it would be ending $10 million in funding over four years for its offices across Australia, EDO NSW executive director Jeff Smith said on Tuesday.
The cuts threaten closure for offices in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and North Queensland.
Other EDOs in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria will be forced to wind back advocacy and policy services.
The former Labor government pledged the $10 million boost last year, Mr Smith said.
"We had signed a contract for that funding and we were entitled to rely on that contract," he told AAP.
The annual injection of just under $100,000 that EDOs have traditionally received will also no longer be renewed, he said.
For NSW the cuts will amount to a 20 per cent reduction in their budget, but for other offices it was equivalent to a 90-95 per cent hit to their bottom line, Mr Smith said.
"This is an extremely disappointing decision for hundreds of grassroots community organisations around Australia.
"Their local EDO is the only place they can afford to go for expert legal advice when they feel threatened by some major development."
The offices have run a number of landmark court cases for community groups across Australia including the recent court challenge on behalf of the residents of the Hunter Valley village of Bulga to the expansion of a coal mine operated by a subsidiary of Rio Tinto.
The case is currently on appeal.
Comment has been sought from Attorney-General George Brandis.
