A coalition of more than 60 legal organisations has urged the federal government to abandon a plan to scrap the Family Court as a stand-alone entity, warning that a proposed courts merger risks the safety of child and adult victims of family violence…

The government launched the inquiry to look into concerns including the onus of proof required to gain an apprehended violence order, the cost of the court process and claims of false evidence being used against former partners…

There are “strong indications” that somewhere between 50 per cent to 90 per cent of family violence cases involve economic abuse, and as such, it is imperative that lawyers know how to support clients through such traumatic incidences, argues one boutique practitioner…

Violent men who breach personal protection injunctions taken out by their former partners will face up to two years in jail and no longer be able to rely on drunkenness as a defence…

A major review of Australia’s family law will consider whether the system is overly adversarial and examine the impact on children…

There seems to be a general acceptance in the community that if push comes to shove, protecting women from domestic abuse should be the priority, even at the cost of prosecuting innocent men…

It seems everyone wants family law system reform. But the head of the Family Court says we should be wary of simple solutions to complex problems…

ONE of the nation’s top judges has called for a separate, less ­formal tribunal to deal with family law cases involving extreme domestic violence, arguing that the current adversarial system is not the right place for women who have been badly abused…

How long will it take for the Abbott government to start counting the cost to the community of its budget changes?..

Perhaps the most significant amendments to the parenting provisions were introduced by the Howard Government in 2006. While these also gave some new priority to issues of family violence, they are generally seen as at least having had the effect of prioritising relationships with both parents after separation over the significance of family violence to decision making about parenting…