Legal Aid (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1984 (ACT)

The Australian Capital Territory Legal Aid (Amendment) Ordinance (No 2) 1984 was challenged on the grounds that it was inconsistent with the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) as it purported to amend the Legal Aid Ordinance 1977 in a way that was inconsistent with the legislative powers of the Territory. The Court had to decide whether the Ordinance was valid and whether it complied with the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth).

The Court found that the Ordinance was valid and did not contravene the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth). The Court held that the Ordinance was within the legislative powers of the Territory as it was an amendment to an existing law and did not create a new law. The Court also found that the changes made by the Ordinance were minor and did not affect the overall structure or purpose of the Legal Aid Ordinance 1977. The Court held that the changes were within the power of the Territory to make and did not contravene any provisions of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth).

The Court dismissed the challenge to the validity of the Ordinance and held that it was a valid exercise of the legislative power of the Territory. The Court found that the Ordinance did not contravene the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) and was within the power of the Territory to make. The Court held that the changes made by the Ordinance were minor and did not affect the overall structure or purpose of the Legal Aid Ordinance 1977. The Court also found that the changes were necessary to ensure that the administration of legal aid in the Territory was efficient and effective.