Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

The government amendments have the effect that the expanded part of the definition of a member of the family includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of family. Further, the government amendments and the current operation of the court notification obligations will be unchanged, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parties to proceedings will still be required to comply with them with reference to the definition of 'member of the family' but excluding the expanded component. This means that obligations will be the same for all parties and not more onerous for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parties. The approach of the government amendments is more consistent with recommendation 5 of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee report on the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 compared with the amendments proposed on amendment sheet 2070.