Legal Aid Act 1978

VLA must, in respect of each applicable period—

prepare a plan regarding VLA's strategy for its operation during that period; and

submit the plan to the Attorney-General on or before the day specified for that period by the Attorney-General by notice in writing given to VLA.

The applicable periods are the consecutive periods of 4 years, the first of which begins on 1 July 2018.

The Attorney-General may specify that the strategic plan for the first applicable period is to be submitted on a day that is later than 1 July 2018.

The strategic plan for an applicable period must—

set out—

the intended achievements and financial projections of VLA for that period; and

the matters which VLA intends to prioritise or have regard to when making decisions during that period; and

be in a form agreed to by VLA and the Attorney-General.

No later than one month after a strategic plan is received by the Attorney-General, the Attorney-General may—

approve the plan; or

request VLA to amend the strategic plan.

If, by the end of the period referred to in subsection (5), the Attorney-General has not taken an action referred to in subsection (5)(a) or (b), the Attorney-General is taken to have approved the strategic plan.

If the Attorney-General requests amendments under subsection (5)(b), VLA must—

consult the Attorney-General about the requested amendments; and

amend the plan as agreed with the Attorney-General; and

submit the amended plan no later than 2 months after the amendments were requested.

VLA may, with the Attorney-General's agreement, amend a strategic plan approved by the Attorney-General.

VLA must publish a strategic plan on its internet site—

as soon as practicable after it is approved by the Attorney-General; and

if the plan is later amended under subsection (8), as soon as practicable after that amendment.