Friday 22 January 2010

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS, BUSHFIRE REPORTERS, LEGAL REPORTERS

Free legal information and support is currently available to all Victorians affected by bushfires.

Information and support is available over the phone - call 1800 113 432 to get advice and referral to ongoing help from Legal Aid, community legal centres and private lawyers acting without fee. This service is expected to be available until 31 March 2010.

The Bushfire Legal Help website – www.bushfirelegalhelp.org.au – provides free legal factsheets covering the most common areas of legal concern to people affected by bushfires. These factsheets can assist with issues such as insurance and mortgage problems, and replacing lost or destroyed documents. The website also contains a handy checklist of important documents that people should copy and keep in their relocation kit in case they need to leave their home or property.

Bushfire Legal Help was established to provide pro bono support legal support and includes Victoria Legal Aid, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the Law Institute of Victoria, Victoria Law Foundation, Public Interest Law Clearing House and the Victorian Bar.

For further information contact Kerry O’Shea on: koshea@liv.asn.au or 0401 107103.