Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Clarke Inquiry Financial Assistance Scheme

The Attorney-General's Department administers a financial assistance scheme, known as the Royal Commissions and Inquiries Scheme, under which members of the public asked to provide submissions or statements to the Clarke Inquiry can apply for financial assistance to meet their legal costs. The Department has established specific guidelines for the provision of financial assistance under this scheme for legal and related costs before the Clarke Inquiry.

An application for financial assistance must be made in writing to the Attorney-General's Department. Generally, a grant of financial assistance will commence from the date of receipt by the Attorney-General's Department of an application for financial assistance. The application may be made through the applicant's legal representative and should include the following information:

  • details of the applicant's involvement in the Inquiry
  • details of the applicant's proposed legal representation
  • an estimate of the applicant's legal costs and related expenses (noting the Department's standard range of fee rates set out in the Scheme Guidelines)
  • whether the applicant may be entitled to claim for legal costs or related expenses under an insurance policy or similar indemnity arrangement, and
  • a completed statutory declaration.

Statutory Declaration

Applications for financial assistance and inquires about the scheme should be directed to:

Assistant Secretary
Legal Assistance Branch
Attorney-General's Department
Robert Garran Offices
National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Telephone: (02) 6218 7070
Facsimile: (02) 6218 6998