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Legal expenses

Expenditure on internal and external legal services in 2019–20 is shown in tables 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10. Internal expenses include salaries for military and civilian staff, divisional operating costs and military justice reimbursements. External expenses are professional fees, disbursements and legal assistance at Commonwealth expense. The figures are GST exclusive.

Table 4.8: Estimated expenditure on internal and external legal services, 2018–19 and 2019–20

Type of legal expenditure

2018–19 $m

2019–20 $m

Internal

49.20

47.48

External

60.68

59.98

Total

109.88

107.46

Table 4.9: Estimated cost breakdown of internal legal expenses, 2018–19 and 2019–20

Type of legal expenditure

2018–19 $m

2019–20 $m

Salaries for military lawyers

21.39

19.02

Salaries for civilian staff

17.73

16.82

ADF Reserve legal officers

6.42

7.03

Operating costs of the division

3.37

4.32

Military justice disbursements

0.29

0.29

Total

49.20

47.48

Table 4.10: Estimated cost breakdown of external legal expenses, 2018–19 and 2019–20

Items

2018–19 $m

2019–20 $m

Professional fees—Defence legal panel

55.14

49.75

Disbursements

5.34

10.13

Legal assistance at Commonwealth expense

0.20

00.10

Total

60.68

59.98

Visit

https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-defence/reporting-year/2019-20-28