FEES for justice services at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal are set to jump in March.
Victoria's Shadow Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the State Government had proposed increases for the cost of tenancy disputes, small claims and planning matters before VCAT under its planned expansion of a user-pays system.
Under the proposed changes, the cost of lodging small claims over faulty goods will increase from $38 to $160, while planning applications will attract a $1000 fee, up from $322.
Cases heard over more than one day will attract a new $1800-a-day fee.
Mr Pakula said the planned increases would take $22 million from Victorians' pockets and called on the government to explain the increases.
"The Baillieu government has been in government for two years and playing the blame game on the former government will not hide the fact that these increases are of its own doing," he said.
"If imposed, the government's proposed fees will be higher than any other Australian state, affecting up to 8000 Victorians a year.
"The tribunal provides a readily accessible service to Victorians seeking dispute resolution and the Baillieu government's fee increases will deter consumers from accessing the service."
The Horsham town hall and art gallery redevelopment is due to face a VCAT hearing in February after Horsham Rural City Council received objections to the project in October.