Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Evidence Act 1958 - SECT 21E

Disclosure of information etc. relating to proposed applications

21E. Disclosure of information etc. relating to proposed applications



(1) Any person or any member of a legal aid body who advises an applicant in
relation to or assists an applicant in the preparation of a proposed
application for legal aid shall not without the consent of the applicant-

   (a)  produce in a court any document received by the person body or member
        in relation to the proposed application for legal aid; or

   (b)  communicate or permit to be communicated except to a private law
        practice or private legal practitioner acting for the applicant or
        give in evidence in a court any information received by the person
        body or member in relation to the proposed application for legal aid.

(2) A court shall not have power to compel any such person or member to
produce any such document or communicate or give in evidence any such
information unless the applicant has consented to that production or
communication or to the giving of that evidence.

(3) In this section, proposed application for legal aid means an application
proposed to be made-

   (a)  to a legal aid body for legal aid; or

   (b)  to Victoria Legal Aid for legal assistance under the
        Legal Aid Act 1978.