Family Court/FMC review

Friday April 18, 2008

The Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has commenced a review of the operation of the Family and Federal Magistrates Courts. A review has seemed inevitable when the Family Court has received the bulk of the funding but the Federal Magistrates Court has been growing exponentially and now undertakes the bulk of the work. The structure of… Read More »Custom Single Post Header

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award

International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL

Family Court/FMC review

Friday, April 18, 2008

The Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has commenced a review of the operation of the Family and Federal Magistrates Courts.

A review has seemed inevitable when the Family Court has received the bulk of the funding but the Federal Magistrates Court has been growing exponentially and now undertakes the bulk of the work.

The structure of what might come to pass is unknown, but one possible option is for the magistrates to be a first tier of the Family Court in an integrated structure.

The Australian Financial Review has been gleefully reporting apparent disputes between the two courts for some times, including an argument in Adelaide about tea bags and biscuits.

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART