Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm putting up another amendment with regard to fees. This is a big issue that was raised by a lot of people in the Senate inquiry—the costs that are outlaid and what it costs them to represent themselves or buy legal representation in the court system. My amendment here, on sheet 2132, is:

The Minister must cause an independent review of the operation of this Act to be conducted within 6 months after the third anniversary of the commencement of this Act.

…   …   …

Without limiting subsection (1), the review must consider the following in relation to legal practitioners acting in proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) or in family law or child support proceedings (family law practitioners):

(a) the appropriateness of fees charged to clients by family law practitioners;

(b) the extent that family law practitioners are overcharging and overservicing their clients;

(c) the effectiveness of sections 68 and 191 (parties to act consistently with overarching purpose) in reducing overcharging and overservicing by family law practitioners;

(d) measures to prevent excessive fees being charged by family law practitioners.

Will you consider my amendment?