Clause 4 repeals the definition of user charge in section 4 of the principal Act as this term is no longer required because of the repeal of section 18A of the principal Act (see clause 5).

Clause 5 repeals section 18A of the principal Act so that it is no longer a condition of a grant of legal aid for a civil matter that the aided person pay a user charge of the prescribed amount to the lead provider.

Clause 6 amends section 97 of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 18A of the principal Act, to remove the requirement for a lead provider’s claim for payment to show a deduction for the user charge.

Clause 7 amends section 99 of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 18A of the principal Act, to remove the requirement for the Legal Services Commissioner (the Commissioner) to deduct from a lead provider’s claim for payment an amount in respect of an unpaid user charge.

Clause 8 amends section 114 of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 18A of the principal Act, to remove the power to make regulations prescribing the amount of the user charge.

Clause 9 repeals section 33(c) of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 40 of the principal Act (see clause 10), as the amount payable to the Commissioner by an aided person will no longer include interest.

Clause 10 repeals section 40 of the principal Act, which provides that an aided person must pay to the Commissioner interest at the prescribed rate on any debt that is owed in respect of a grant of legal aid.

Clause 11 amends section 43 of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 40 of the principal Act, to remove the discretion vested in the Commissioner to write off interest.

Clause 12 repeals section 44(2) of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 40 of the principal Act, to remove the requirement to disregard interest when assessing the cost of services.

Clause 13 amends section 114 of the principal Act, as a consequence of the repeal of section 40 of the principal Act, to remove the power to make regulations prescribing the rate and calculation of interest payable on an unpaid legal aid debt.

Clause 14 inserts a new Part 2 into Schedule 1AA of the principal Act, which sets out transitional, savings, and related provisions. New Part 2 provides that if, on the day on which this Bill commences (the commencement date), an aided person has any liability in respect of the payment of the user charge or interest, that liability continues after the commencement date until the liability is discharged or otherwise settled.