The wait continues for almost 6000 Black Saturday bushfires victims to hear whether a record class action settlement will be theirs.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Robert Osborn has to sign off on a $494.7 million settlement before it can be distributed to the claimants of the East Kilmore-Kinglake fire class action.
"It is in the interests of the people of Victoria, it's in the interests of the group members and the plaintiff that I sort it out quickly," Justice Osborn said on Monday.
It would help bring closure and finality for victims, he said on the first day of an approval hearing.
"There are a whole series of advantages to approving settlement including avoiding costs, delays and significant stress."
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Robert Richter QC, acting for lead plaintiff Carol Matthews, said only four objections to the settlement amount had been received out of 5847 claimants who are party to an estimated 10,000 claims.
He said two simply stated the figure was too low and a third outlined theories of government conspiracies and treason irrelevant to the proceedings, while a fourth was abandoned before the hearing.
"The absence of objection speaks volumes to the issues of whether the amount of settlement is fair and reasonable," he said.
"This is the best settlement, in all circumstances, that could be achieved.
"The alternative was an all-or-nothing outcome for the group."
Barrister Lachlan Armstrong, who represents more than 1500 claimants, took Justice Osborn through summaries of some of the more than 20,000 pages of evidence collated during the class action trial.
The judge said the trial heard unprecedented levels of evidence during more than 200 sitting days over 16 months and it was important he examine the facts to be satisfied it was a good settlement.
"It seems I have to have some regard to the evidence in deciding whether it's in the ultimate range," he said of the settlement amount.
If Justice Osborn approves the payout, the largest settlement in an Australian class action, it will be paid by SP AusNet, Utility Services Victoria Ltd and the Victorian government.
It's expected it would then take between 18 months and two years for individual claims from the February 7, 2009 fires to be assessed and money to be paid out, according to Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
That's far quicker than the decade or longer it would have taken for individual litigations to be finalised following conventional court processes, Justice Osborn said.
The hearing will continue on Tuesday.
