Current Grant Opportunity View - GO5113

The Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme funds the reasonable costs of legal representation for current and former serving Australian Defence Force members who are the subject of, or participating in, criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to matters arising from the Afghanistan Inquiry. This includes advice for the purposes of participating in Australian Federal Police (AFP)/Office of Special investigator (OSI) investigations, defending charges and giving evidence in Court if criminal proceedings are brought in relation to those matters.

Legal financial assistance may be provided to members and former members of the ADF for their reasonable legal representation and disbursement costs if they can demonstrate:

• The OSI or the AFP has asked them to provide evidence, or
• They have been asked or compelled, either by the court, prosecution or defence, to provide evidence in criminal proceedings in relation to matters that are the subject of the AFP/OSI Afghanistan investigation, or
• They have been charged with a crime in relation to matters that are the subject of the AFP/OSI Afghanistan investigation, or
• They have been served with a Potentially Affected Person (PAP) Notice by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, or similar notice by another relevant authority in relation to matters that are the subject of the AFP/OSI Afghanistan investigation.

Assessment timeframes

Completed applications will be assessed within 28 days. Incomplete applications will not be assessed. We will notify you if your application is incomplete to request missing information.

If you receive less than 28 days' notice to respond to the AFP/OSI investigation, we will try to assess your application before the date of your appearance.

How payments are determined

If a grant is approved, we will only pay after the work has been performed and you have lodged a claim with us. The Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme Assessment of Costs sets the maximum amount that we can pay.

Access to the scheme is through direct application to Legal Financial Assistance Casework at the Attorney-General's Department.

Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme

Alternatively, apply by downloading the application form (in GO Documents), and emailing the completed form to finass@ag.gov.au with any attachments.

If you cannot email the application, or need further information, telephone Legal Financial Assistance Casework on 02 6141 4770 or 1800 117 995 between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Legal Framework

The Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme Guidelines establish the scheme.

The Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme Assessment of Costs provides detailed information of what is payable and at what rate.

All documents can be found in GO Documents.