Submission: Proposed changes to VCAT Fee Regulations

On 15 February 2013, the HRLC made a submission to the Department of Justice regarding proposed increases to certain fees at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Whilst recognising that VCAT’s capacity to effectively carry out its functions depends on adequate resourcing and that carefully targeted cost recovery may add to the resources at VCAT’s disposal, the submission highlights the importance of ensuring that any changes to fees are carefully tailored, on the basis of robust evidence, to minimise the adverse impacts of such changes on the ability of disadvantage people to access the judicial system.

It also discusses how fees that impede access to such a tribunal may also engage the fair hearing right under Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities as well as Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A copy of the Submission can be found here.