MEDIA RELEASE – Friday 8 December, 2017
Women’s Legal Services Australia welcomes Parliamentary Family Law Inquiry report
The report into the Parliamentary Inquiry into a better family law system to support and
protect those affected by family violence was tabled in Federal Parliament last night. Many of
the recommendations are consistent with Women’s Legal Services Australia 5 step plan for
safety first in family law.
The Committee recommends the removal of the presumption of equal shared parental
responsibility in the Family Law Act. “For too long the presumption of equal shared parental
responsibility has exposed women and children to unsafe arrangements. The presumption is
not meant to apply in cases of violence and abuse, however this does not always work in
practice. It is often difficult to ‘prove’ violence to the satisfaction of the court because it occurs
behind closed doors, many victims can be unrepresented in court because of limited legal aid
and many matters are settled in mediation, often without legal assistance,” says WLSA
Representative and CEO of Women’s Legal Service Queensland, Angela Lynch.
The Committee also recommends establishing stronger processes for early identification and
response to family violence;; introduction of legislation to ban direct cross-examination of
victims-survivors by their abusers;; the abolishing of private family consultants;; legislative
amendments to expressly ensure consideration of family violence in property matters;; better
supports for families;; improvements in training for family law professionals;; and additional
resourcing of the federal family courts.
“Women’s Legal Services Australia has been advocating for many years to put the safety of
women and children first in family law. Implementation of these recommendations will help to
do just that,” says Ms Lynch.
(ENDS)
Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA)
Women’s Legal Services Australia is a national network of community legal centres specialising in
women’s legal issues. The National Network was established to be actively involved in law reform
activities to ensure that, particularly women and children, are not disadvantaged by laws and to lobby
for improved access to justice.
Members include: Women’s Legal Service Victoria, Women’s Legal Service QLD, Women’s Legal
Service NSW, Women’s Legal Service SA, Women’s Legal Centre ACT, Women’s Legal Service
Tasmania, Women’s Law Centre of WA, Regional Alliance West Inc, Shoalcoast Community Legal
Centre, Central Australia Women’s Legal Services, North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, and
associate members National Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service and Western NSW
Community Legal Centre.