- Parliament passes historic family law changes
- By Media Release - 087/2006
- Attorney-General Philip Ruddock MP
- 10/05/2006 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: admin ( 61 articles in 2006 )
The most significant family law changes in thirty years passed through the
Parliament today.
This follows the announcement in last night's Federal Budget of an additional investment of $45.8 million in family support services, building on the $397 million over four years pledged last year.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the new system was designed to keep families out of the courts and deliver practical, co-operative outcomes for separating families.
"The Government has delivered on its promise to Australian families," he said.
"These significant legislative changes, combined with the biggest ever investment in the family law system, will encourage a co-operative approach to the difficult issues surrounding family breakdown.
"The new laws reflect the Government's belief that two factors are of primary importance in addressing the interests of children in family breakdowns - the right of the child to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, and the protection of the child from harm."
Passage of the reforms was confirmed today when the House of Representatives accepted the Government's amendments to the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill in the Senate.
In response to representations from existing family law litigants, the Government amended the Bill in the Senate to provide that all parenting orders made from 1 July 2006 will apply the new laws - even those relating to cases currently in the system.
Media Contact: Charlie McKillop 02 6277 7300 / 0419 278 715
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone 02 6277 7300 Facsimile 02 6273 4102 https://www.law.gov.au/ag
This follows the announcement in last night's Federal Budget of an additional investment of $45.8 million in family support services, building on the $397 million over four years pledged last year.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the new system was designed to keep families out of the courts and deliver practical, co-operative outcomes for separating families.
"The Government has delivered on its promise to Australian families," he said.
"These significant legislative changes, combined with the biggest ever investment in the family law system, will encourage a co-operative approach to the difficult issues surrounding family breakdown.
"The new laws reflect the Government's belief that two factors are of primary importance in addressing the interests of children in family breakdowns - the right of the child to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, and the protection of the child from harm."
Passage of the reforms was confirmed today when the House of Representatives accepted the Government's amendments to the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill in the Senate.
In response to representations from existing family law litigants, the Government amended the Bill in the Senate to provide that all parenting orders made from 1 July 2006 will apply the new laws - even those relating to cases currently in the system.
Media Contact: Charlie McKillop 02 6277 7300 / 0419 278 715
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone 02 6277 7300 Facsimile 02 6273 4102 https://www.law.gov.au/ag
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