Harmful proceedings orders
A change that was made to the Family Law Act 1975 in 2024 was to allow the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia to make a harmful proceedings order. This is to stop the never ending cycle of abusive court proceedings, which often stretch on for a decade, and cause such harm to the other party and the children.
Judges have grabbed this power and used it with enthusiasm, at last having a key tool to stop abuse by litigation.
Our director, Stephen Page, spoke at the recent The Education Network 11th annual Melbourne Family Law Conference about harmful proceedings orders.
Here is his paper: