Costs have been awarded in the extensive legal battle surrounding the Canberra Bushfires in 2003.

More than 30 people were collectively represented by insurance firm QBE as well as independent ACT farmer Wayne West in the trial which sought to sue the New South Wales Government for negligence in not stopping the fire early enough.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Terrence Higgins made a ruling in December last year finding the Government at fault but was not liable because of a law excusing firefighters acting in good faith.

This week Justice Higgins ruled the QBE group should have to reimburse half the New South Wales Government's legal costs, with Mr West to pick up 5 per cent of that amount.

The ACT Government settled its part of the case out of court, as part of the largest civil action in the ACT's history.