By Gianna Huesch
The Turnbull Government has pledged to change the law to criminalise family violence. The Government has prepared a draft of legislative amendments to the Family Law Act and will release it at the Council of Australian Government meeting with premiers to be held in Canberra this Friday.
Police will be able to charge people with breaching a Federal Circuit Court or Family Court personal protection injunction and not require the victim to make a court application to do so, incurring significant costs.
It is proposed that the consequences for breaching injunctions would be two years jail or fines of more than $20,000, or both.
Other proposed changes include facilitating the faster hearing of matters involving at-risk children, and enrolling judicial officers in a family violence education and training program.
“The new training package will be delivered by the National Judicial College of Australia and will provide judicial officers with specialist training about the nature and dynamics of family violence, and how these should be taken into account in matters involving family violence,’’ Mr Turnbull said.
Changes to how the State courts handle family law matters are also planned.
Read more: https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/33464237/new-law-toughens-family-court-protection/#page1 and http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/twoyear-jail-terms-for-breaching-court-orders-under-family-violence-crackdown-by-prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull/news-story/b686ad6fb07183321643ab0cc54e226a
Do you need help with a family law matter? Please contact Cristina Huesch or one of our other experienced solicitors here at Alliance Family Law on (02) 6223 2400. Your first no-obligation conference is free.
