Introduction

2.1 Family violence as a legal issue sits within a complex framework of laws, state and federal, and against the backdrop of international instruments. This chapter begins with a consideration of the international instruments that affect the range of issues in focus in this Inquiry. Following this is an analysis of the division of jurisdiction in relation to family law matters between federal and state and territory laws, together with a brief description of the nature of the jurisdictions of the range of courts in which family violence issues may arise.