New South Wales Consolidated Acts

LEGAL AID COMMISSION ACT 1979 - SECT 33

33 Powers of Commission in respect of application

(1) On receipt of an application, the Commission may:

(a) make such inquiries as it thinks fit as to the means and circumstances of the applicant and of each person who is associated with the applicant for the purposes of any means test under section 35,

(b) require the applicant to furnish such information, in addition to the information furnished in the application, and produce such books or documents as the Commission specifies,

(c) require the applicant to attend personally,

(d) refer the application or any matter relating to or arising from the application to a person (including a barrister or solicitor) nominated by the Commission for investigation, report or advice, and

(e) take such steps as may be necessary to conserve the interests of the applicant pending the determination of the application.

(2) The Commission may defray expenses incidental to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1) from money available to the Commission or require the applicant to meet those expenses. A requirement that the applicant meet those expenses may be imposed at any time after receipt of the application but not later than the making of a determination in respect of the person under section 46.

(3) An amount required to be paid under subsection (2) must be paid in such manner, and within such time, as the Commission directs.

(4) The Commission may recover an amount payable to it under subsection (2), and any interest payable in respect of the amount, as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.