Queensland Consolidated Acts

LEGAL AID QUEENSLAND ACT 1997 - SECT 29

29 Legal Aid service provider must give particular information to Legal Aid

(1) This section applies if a person is receiving legal assistance for a matter and a Legal Aid service provider is performing, or has performed services for the person in relation to the matter.

(2) If Legal Aid considers it necessary to perform its functions, it may, by written notice, ask the service provider to give it any relevant information or document about the matter that is within the service provider’s knowledge, or to which the service provider has access.

(3) The service provider must give the information or document to Legal Aid by the day stated in the notice despite any legal professional privilege arising out of the relationship between the service provider and the legally assisted person.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(4) A Legal Aid service provider may give Legal Aid any information or document the service provider considers may help Legal Aid perform its functions despite any legal professional privilege arising out of the relationship between the service provider and the legally assisted person.

(5) For this section, the legally assisted person is taken to have waived any privilege or right, including legal professional privilege, that might otherwise prevent the service provider giving the information or document.

(6) However, the privilege, right or relationship is not otherwise affected by the service provider performing, or having performed, services for the person under this Act.

(7) A service provider does not incur civil liability for an act done or omission made, honestly and without negligence under this section.

(8) In this section—

"relevant information" , about a matter, means information—

(a) relevant to giving legal assistance to a person for the matter; or

(b) about the matter’s progress and disposal.