Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Legal Aid Act 1978 - SECT 33

Statement of reasons for a decision to be given

33. Statement of reasons for a decision to be given



(1) Where a decision in relation to the provision of legal assistance or in
relation to the making of any payment in respect of costs, including a
decision reconsidering or reviewing a previous decision, is made by VLA or by
an independent reviewer under this Act, VLA-

   (a)  within fourteen days after the decision is made, shall communicate the
        decision to the person who applied for the legal assistance or for the
        payment, as the case may be; and

   (b)  in the case where the decision is a decision refusing to provide legal
        assistance or imposing a condition on the provision of legal
        assistance, shall, if requested to do so, cause to be furnished to the
        person a short statement of the reasons for the decision.

(2) The communication to a person of a decision referred to in subsection (1)
shall be effected-

   (a)  in a case where the matter to which the decision relates was dealt
        with on behalf of the person by a private legal practitioner-by giving
        to the private legal practitioner, or by sending to the private legal
        practitioner by post to the address of the private legal practitioner
        last known to VLA, a document setting out the terms of the decision
        and particulars of the right of the person to have the decision
        reconsidered and reviewed in accordance with Part VI; and

   (b)  in any other case-by giving such a document to the person or by
        sending such a document to the person-

   (i)  by post to the address of the person last known to VLA; or

   (ii) in any other way authorized by the person. __________________