Reform roundup

Family Violence – a National Legal Response

On 30 September the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released a national data collection and reporting framework to improve the evidence base for action against family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia.  The ALRC is happy to see this development, having recommended in Family Violence – A National Legal Response (ALRC Report 114), that ‘a suitable federal agency gather and report data about federal offences in a family violence context’ (see in full Rec 8-1).

In October the Attorney-General gave new terms of reference to the Family Law Council to look at parenting disputes that raise issues that cut across the child care and protection and family law systems.  The FLC’s inquiry builds on a considerable body of earlier work, including in particular the ALRC and NSLWRC report, Family Violence – A National Legal Response (ALRC Report 114). This inquiry sought  to respond to challenges for dealing with family violence in a federal system and the recommendations in the report will provide a significant input into aspects of the Family Law Council’s work.

The ALRC has observer status on the Family Law Council and looks forward to assisting the Council in their new project.