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LEGAL News
The Legal Representation
Cost Fund
Member Expectations and Entitlements
What can you expect if you need to access the Legal
Representation Cost Fund?
Tony Walsh > LEGAL MANAGER
In the last two issues of The Police
Association Journal we outlined the
function of the Legal Representation Cost
Fund. This month we look at what you can
expect if you apply for funding.
The Fund has been established and
is maintained by a percentage of your
fortnightly membership subscriptions.
The allocated percentage of the contribution
is determined by the Association’s
Constitution and can be adjusted to ensure
a healthy balance is maintained. The Fund
currently stands at more than $12 million.
The Fund has principally been established
to meet the legal costs associated with the
representation of a member who has been
charged with a criminal offence or is a party
to civil proceedings.
The legal representation is provided by
solicitors from The Police Association’s
appointed firm of preferred solicitors.
This representation may, from time to time,
extend to specialist legal counsel ensuring
that our members receive the best possible
legal representation.
There have been times when the Fund has
been referred to as a ‘fighting fund’. This
creates the misconception of the financial
support provided to you by the Association.
The term ‘fighting fund’ suggests that
The Police Association will meet all costs
associated with the representation and
those awarded adversely against you in
damages and costs. This is not the case.
The Legal Representation Cost Fund is
only accessible to meet the costs of legal
representation for the applicant member.
It is not an insurance policy. Insurers
will void a policy if certain criteria are not
met. The same can be said of the Legal
Representation Cost Fund.
The fund is only accessible to meet the costs
of legal representation for the applicant.
In civil proceedings, where an action is
mounted against a member and the
member unsuccessfully defends that action,
all costs and damages awarded by the court
against the member, are the responsibility
of the member not the Legal Representation
Cost Fund.
For any questions relating to the Legal
Representation Cost Fund you’re your eligibility
contact The Police Association’s Legal/
Discipline section − general@tpav.org.au.
> IR News
Long service leave now made simpler
The Police Association has
successfully negotiated an outcome
with the Victoria Police Force
that will, in future, enable members to
make better sense of their long service
leave balance.
The change was made last month and
members will notice that their long service
leave balance displayed on their pay advice slips
is now expressed in months rather than hours.
The expression of long service leave
balances in hours has caused much
confusion among members since new HR
software was introduced. It has also led to
other consequences, such as calculation
errors that expressed a short-change
of the long service leave entitlements
for some members.
These concerns prompted the Association
to initiate discussions with the Force
last year in an attempt to have the
HR Assist software recalibrated so
that members’ long service leave
balances are both simply expressed
and accurate.
If members are still concerned that their
long service leave balances are inaccurate,
despite these changes, they should
contact our Industrial Relations section for
assistance and advice.
The Police Association Victoria Journal May 2011
11