Disaster Legal Help

Media release

Monday 30 March, 2009

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS, BUSHFIRE EDITORS, LEGAL REPORTERS

Please note bushfire legal help phone number 1800 113 432

 

VICTORIAN BAR URGES BUSHFIRE VICTIMS TO SEEK FREE HELP BEFORE ROYAL COMMISSION

Victims of the bushfires who want to appear before the Royal Commission must lodge an application to appear within the next 10 days – by the 9 April deadline.

 

The Victorian Bar is offering free assistance to help people lodge their applications effectively, and will also provide assistance at no charge to those appearing at the preliminary hearing on 20 April 2009.

 

The Victorian Bar, through Bushfire Legal Help, is offering free assistance to:

  • complete ‘leave to appear’ applications
  • assist with advice to those considering whether they appear before the Royal Commission
  • appear before the preliminary Royal Commission hearing on 20 April 2009.

 

“People have a very short period (about another 10 days) to file the paperwork for what is called ‘leave to appear’ before the Royal Commission,” said Alexandra Richards QC, Chair of the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Committee.

 

“There is a range of information people must provide – and that includes how their interest in the Royal Commission meets the terms of reference for the Commission – in short, how what they can offer will help the Commission do its job,” she said

 

“They must also explain their reason for wanting to appear, and provide a brief outline of what they want to say – up to three pages, but it must meet the requirements of the Commission. That can be difficult when people do not have legal training – it’s hard to know what to include and what not to; and what you might have a chance to include later on.” Ms Richards explained.

 

“The Victorian Bar believes that its assistance in this way should be very helpful to the people most affected by the Victorian bushfires and should also assist the Royal Commission,” said Victorian Bar Chairman, John Digby QC.

 

“Barristers have special expertise in this area – the processes of courts, tribunals and Royal Commissions – how they work, your rights in those proceedings, how to appear before them and how get your point of view or story across.

 

“We urge affected Victorians to make the most of the assistance Victorian barristers are offering in this phase of the recovery and the Royal Commission,” Mr Digby concluded.

 

Bushfire victims who want Victorian barristers to assist them should contact the Bushfire Legal Help phone line on 1800 113 432 (Mon - Fri 8.45am - 5.15pm).

 

The service is supported by the Victorian Bar, the Law Institute of Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the Victoria Law Foundation; and Public Interest Law Clearing House.

 

Further information contact Alicia Patterson (Victorian Bar Media Liaison) on 0403172024 or Kerry O’Shea on koshea@liv.asn.au or 0401 107103.