New chairperson and member of the Independent Review Panel

The Victorian Attorney-General has appointed Janine Hebiton as the new Chairperson of the Panel of Independent Reviewers for a 3-year term.

In addition to the appointment of the new chairperson, Emily Latif has been appointed to a 3-year term as Panel member.

The Panel of Independent Reviewers has responsibility under section 19 of the Legal Aid Act 1978 (Vic) for reviewing Victoria Legal Aid's decisions to:

• refuse to provide legal assistance of the nature or to the extent applied for
• impose conditions on a grant of legal assistance (in some circumstances)
• vary or terminate a grant of legal assistance
• allocate the conduct of a matter.

Janine Hebiton replaces Gavin Silbert QC as Chairperson of the Panel after his term of appointment expired last year. She is the first female Chairperson to be appointed.

Janine serves as a Special Counsel with the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and has extensive experience in administrative decision making and review. She has represented the government in judicial review challenges to government decisions and has acted for government agencies in a range of matters, often involving complex issues of statutory interpretation and strategy. Her experience in managing complex litigation in a time pressured and highly sensitive environment makes her well-suited to her role as Chairperson of the Panel.

Emily Latif, the new Panel member, is a Barrister with the Victorian Bar. Emily’s practice is, predominantly, in public law, including administrative law and discrimination. Before coming to the Bar, Emily had the honour of serving as an Associate to Justice Kenny at the Federal Court of Australia.

Janine and Emily join Brook Hely, a long-standing Panel member.

VLA thanks Mr Silbert QC for his time and commitment over his three-year term.

More information

Read more about independent review of decisions.

For queries about the independent review process, please email grants@vla.vic.gov.au.