Family law reforms ‘urgent’

Report finds current system is failing victims

AUSTRALIA’S legal system is not doing enough to support or protect those experiencing family violence, Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson claims.

The federal Liberal MP is the Chair of Parliament’s Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee, which has called for urgent improvements to the family law system to better support and protect those affected by family violence.

The committee presented a report to the House of Representatives this week, finding the current system was frequently failing to support and protect families affected by family violence.

“It is clear that the family law system is not providing adequate support to and protection of families experiencing family violence,” Ms Henderson said.

“In many cases, the safety of families, particularly children, is being compromised.

“We have listened to thousands of everyday Australians affected by family violence who have with courage told us about their experiences with the family law system.

“We are confident that the reforms we have suggested in this report will help families, confronting the turmoil and trauma of family violence, better navigate the family law system and receive the justice they deserve.”

The report included 33 recommendations for shorter- term reforms to the system.

Recommendations include establishing stronger early identification and response processes for family violence matters, the urgent introduction of legislation to prohibit perpetrators of family violence from cross examining the other party and the removal of the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility in the Family Law Act. There is also a recommendation for more resources to be provided to federal family courts to help clear an increasing backlog of cases currently before the courts.

Police this week revealed family violence is expected to spike this Christmas, anticipating an extra 1000 reports in December and January.