The Family Law Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2010 which was published late in 2010 proposes significant changes to the Family Law Act 1975 in an attempt to protect children in separated families. The slide show attached sets out the problems faced by parents who struggle to protect children from a dangerous former partner and how the new legislation might operate in future.
The most significant changes relate to the definition of abuse which includes psychological abuse resulting from, but not limited to, being exposed to family violence, and a clear definition of what exposure to family violence is.
The new definition highlights the risks for children and the Bill proposes strong mandatory reporting measures which would ensure that the Court is made aware of risks to children. The practical implications of this are uncertain and it would seem that child protection agencies will be overwhelmed by the potential volume of reports.
Download the report here:
Keeping Children in Separated Families Safe
For information on domestic violence and what you can do visit https://www.1800respect.org.au/