ASIO Scheme

The ASIO Scheme, administered by the Attorney-General's Department in Australia, provides legal financial assistance to individuals summoned by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to appear before a prescribed authority for questioning.

Key details of the funding program include:

Objectives:

• To provide financial support for legal representation and related expenses for persons summoned by ASIO.
• To ensure access to legal assistance in matters involving ASIO questioning.

Target Beneficiaries:

• Individuals summoned by ASIO for questioning before a prescribed authority.
• Not available for persons facing criminal charges or legal matters under state or territory laws.
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need; those able to meet legal costs without serious financial difficulty are generally ineligible.

Application Process:

• Applications must comply with authorisation terms permitting disclosure of information for financial assistance.
• Applications can be submitted online or by downloading the form and emailing it with required attachments.
• Complete applications are assessed within 28 days; incomplete applications are not assessed.
• Applicants may request a review of decisions within 28 days if they disagree with outcomes.

Key Features:

• Funding covers legal representation costs and related expenses.
• The scheme does not generally reimburse costs incurred before application unless specified.
• The total funding available is AUD 3,006,000.
• Legal invoices are paid directly by the department, typically within 28 days.
• The scheme operates under the Commonwealth Guidelines for legal financial assistance under section 34ZX of the ASIO Act 1979.
• Confidentiality of applications is maintained as per privacy guidelines.

This scheme is demand-driven and ongoing, supporting legal financial assistance specifically related to ASIO summons and questioning processes.

Contact for inquiries:

Legal Financial Assistance Casework section, phone 02 6141 4770, email FinassGeneral@ag.gov.au.

More details and application forms are available on the Attorney-General's Department website.