Advocate for the adoption of family law reforms to reduce fragmented jurisdictions across Australia

As part of our approach, the Department of Justice and Community Safety is working to support Victorian Magistrates to exercise existing and expanded powers in the family law jurisdiction by:

• considering the recommendations of the Commonwealth Government’s Family Law Council’s final report into 'Families with Complex Needs and the Intersection of the Family Law and Child Protection Systems'
• convening a working group with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department to develop a proposed approach

In February 2017, the Victorian Government made a submission to the Commonwealth Government on proposed legislative family law reforms to reduce fragmentation of jurisdiction in cases that involve family violence.

A national Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (now Council of Attorneys-General) working group was established through COAG to consider the impacts, including resourcing, of the proposed legislation released by the Commonwealth government through a draft exposure Bill. Victoria co-chaired the working group with the Commonwealth. The first meeting of the working group was held on 1 June 2017. The group reported to the Council of Attorneys-General on 23 November 2018.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety has convened a working group with the Department of Health and Human Services, Family Safety Victoria the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department to develop a proposed approach to reducing fragmentation between the family violence and family law systems. The group met for the first time in December 2018 and the recommendation has therefore been acquitted.

Implemented.