27Legal and financial assistance

#### 27 Legal and financial assistance (1) A witness who is appearing or is about to appear before an examiner may make an application to the Attorney‑General for the provision of assistance under this section in respect of his or her appearance. (2) A person who proposes to make, or has made, an application to the Federal Court under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 for an order of review in respect of a matter arising under this Act may make an application to the Attorney‑General for the provision of assistance under this section in respect of the application to the Federal Court. (2A) A person who proposes to make, or has made, an application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 for an order of review in respect of a matter arising under this Act may make an application to the Attorney‑General for the provision of assistance under this section in respect of the application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). (3) Where an application is made by a person under subsection (1), (2) or (2A), the Attorney‑General may, if he or she is satisfied that: (a) it would involve substantial hardship to the person to refuse the application; or (b) the circumstances of the case are of such a special nature that the application should be granted; authorize the provision by the Commonwealth to that person, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Attorney‑General determines, of such legal or financial assistance in respect of the appearance of that person before the examiner, or the application by that person to the Federal Court, as the case may be, as the Attorney‑General determines.