Western Australia: a leap into the unknown
Sunday September 14, 2008

Western Australia: a leap into the unknown

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Now that it appears that the WA Nationals are supporting the Liberals, what now for family law in the West?

There are two issues which may now be up in the air:

1. The national de facto reforms

Despite the coalition senators on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee recommending also that the changes come through quickly, WA has always gone by the beat of a different drum. The Commonwealth has already rejected the narrow referral of power from WA, and given that Colin Barnett has said that he will not be bullied by the Commonwealth about closing any WA school, it wouldn’t be surprising if WA decides to take a different approach to the de facto law reforms, and stymie much needed national reform.

2. Surrogacy

Despite former Attorney Phillip Ruddock calling for uniform surrogacy laws, and despite Labor getting surrogacy through WA’s Upper House (and then lapsing because of the election) watch this space to see if WA does anything about surrogacy now, and if so, what it might be.

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
Egg Donation Process in Australia: Steps & Agreements

Egg donation process: fertility lawyer explains

Egg donation involves more than agreeing to help someone have a child. Before treatment proceeds, the donor needs medical clearance, the IVF clinic requires consent forms, and counselling forms part of the preparation. Where the donor knows the intended parent or parents, there is also an important question: what has everyone agreed will happen with… Read More »Egg donation process: fertility lawyer explains

Egg Donation in Australia: Age, Consent & Who Can Donate

Egg donation in Australia: who can donate?

Egg donation can help another person or couple become parents. But donating eggs involves more than medical treatment. It also involves decisions about consent, identity, family connections and the interests of a child who may be born. The starting point is straightforward: an egg donor must be donating their own eggs, have medical clearance and… Read More »Egg donation in Australia: who can donate?

De Facto Relationship: What Counts Under Family Law?

De facto relationship: what counts under family law?

Sharing a home does not automatically make two people a de facto couple. Equally, living apart does not necessarily mean that a de facto relationship cannot exist. Under Australian family law, the question involves more than an address. The central issue is whether the couple’s relationship amounts to living together on a genuine domestic basis.… Read More »De facto relationship: what counts under family law?

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