(1) A person who has made, or proposes to make, an application under section 23AA or 23F may apply to the Attorney - General for a grant of assistance under this section in respect of the application.
(2) If such an application for assistance is made, the Attorney - General, or a person appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 (the public servant ) authorised in writing by the Attorney - General, may, if he or she is satisfied that it would involve hardship to the applicant to refuse the application for assistance and that, in all the circumstances, it is reasonable that the application for assistance should be granted, authorise the grant by the Commonwealth to the person, either unconditionally or subject to any conditions that the Attorney - General or public servant determines, of such legal or financial assistance in relation to the application under section 23AA or 23F, as the case may be, as the Attorney - General or public servant determines.