Myth #2: use of the gavel
Thursday September 24, 2009

Myth #2: use of the gavel

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I have been asked many times over the years about whether the judge will use a gavel. Actually, most of the time I’m not asked about gavels, but about the judge’s hammer, because this is after all what the gavel is: the stamp of the judge’s authority.
Well the best answer is probably the easiest. Someone, somewhere may use gavels in the courtroom in Australia. At best their use is rare. It’s just that in almost 25 years of going to various courts including the High Court, Family Court in Brisbane, Townsville and Sydney, I have never seen the gavel in court, let alone being used there.
Stephen Page, Harrington Family Lawyers, Brisbane spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com 61(7) 3221 9544
Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen
ALRC Surrogacy Report 2026: What Changes Are Coming

Surrogacy lawyer explains upcoming ALRC reports

Australia is approaching an important moment for family and fertility law. By the end of July 2026 and during August 2026, the Australian Law Reform Commission, or ALRC, is expected to deliver two major reports to Commonwealth Attorney General Michelle Rowland. One report will address surrogacy law. The other will examine Australia’s human tissue laws.… Read More »Surrogacy lawyer explains upcoming ALRC reports

Overseas Surrogacy Australia: Parentage Now Recognised

Overseas surrogacy births now recognised in Australia

For years, the recognition of parents through overseas surrogacy has been unnecessarily uncertain. Australian intended parents could return home with a child, a foreign birth certificate and a foreign court order, yet still face questions about whether Australian law recognised them as parents. That position changed on 1 April 2025. It may be April Fool’s… Read More »Overseas surrogacy births now recognised in Australia

Children's Wishes in Parenting Cases: A Lawyer Explains

Do children have a say in parenting cases? Lawyer explains

In Australian parenting cases, children can have a say. That much is clear. But the more accurate answer is that yes, children’s views matter, but the weight given to those views depends on the individual child and the circumstances of the case. That is often where confusion starts. Many parents assume a child can simply… Read More »Do children have a say in parenting cases? Lawyer explains

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board