Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

The Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 contains important reforms to the Family Law Act 1975 which build on landmark reforms for parenting matters that commenced on 6 May 2024. The Albanese government is committed to ensuring the family law system is safer, more accessible and simpler to use and delivers justice and equity for all Australian families.

This bill will make resolving property and financial aspects of relationship breakdowns safer, simpler and fairer for separating families, especially where family violence is present. We know that those affected by family violence struggle to achieve a fair division of property after a relationship breakdown and suffer long-term financial disadvantage. Family violence may also be a barrier to women seeking a property settlement at all. This bill is an opportunity to send a strong message to the community that property settlement outcomes should recognise the effect of family violence on individuals and on the wealth and welfare of the family where this is relevant. It is an opportunity to provide additional safety, reassurance and predictability for families by providing for the establishment of a regulatory framework for children's contact services to ensure safe and child focused services for families who cannot safely manage contact arrangements themselves.

The bill also seeks to introduce a power for the courts to safeguard protected confidences in family law proceedings and other measures that clarify the operation of aspects of the law and support the efficient administration of the family courts. This bill will better assist Australians using the family law system by creating a safer and clearer process for separating families. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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