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Bushfire legal help handbook now available

Date : 03 Jul 2009

The Bushfire legal help handbook – a guide to the law for people affected by the February 2009 Victorian bushfires is now available online.  The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, announced the handbook's availability on Wednesday 1 July 2009.  

The Bushfire legal help handbook is the result of collaboration between Bushfire Legal Help partners. Staff from Victoria Legal Aid, Public Interest Law Clearing House, Law Institute of Victoria and members of the Federation of Community Legal Centres and the private profession generously contributed their time and expertise. 

Produced to help bushfire affected people, Sabina Crawley project co-ordinator says, 'Our aim was to make the handbook useful and easy-to-use, with information covering insurance, fencing, family law, Wills and estates, Royal Commission, coronial process and more, as well as provide information on where to get help and other relief and assistance available.'

The handbook and 10 fact sheets are available on the Bushfire Legal Help website (new window). Printed copies of the fact sheets can be ordered using the Bushfire legal help order form or by phoning (03) 9269 0223. 

Contributors to the handbook include The State Coroner’s Office, 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Supreme Court Probate Office, JobWatch, Consumer Action Law Centre, Fitzroy Legal Service, Tenants Union of Victoria, Aitken Partners Pty Ltd, Minter Ellison, Blake Dawson, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, DLA Phillips Fox, Holding Redlich Lawyers, Herbert Geer, Mallesons, McKean Park and Russell Kennedy.

The Bushfire Legal Help phone line continues to operate on 1800 113 432 (Monday to Friday, 8.45 am to 5.15 pm).