MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
PORTER ABANDONS FAILED FAMILY COURT ABOLITION
Labor welcomes the Attorney-General's decision today to abandon his failed plans to effectively abolish the Family Court.
Mr Porter stunned many in the Family Court sector in May last year when he announced plans to destroy the Family Court on the basis of a 6 week desktop review by a firm of consultants.
Earlier this year, a report by the Australian Law Reform Commission which the Government is still to respond to totally contradicted the Attorney-General by instead recommending the creation of an entirely new court system and greater specialisation in the family law system.
The Family Court system is crucial to the wellbeing of many thousands of lives, especially young children. It is too important to be dealt with in such a chaotic fashion.
Mr Porter has now recognised his failed Family Court project has blown up in his face by agreeing to Senator Hanson's demands for another review before he has even responded to the ALRC report into the Governments last review.
In setting up this inquiry, Mr Porter must ensure this time he gets it right by doing what he failed to do last time - consulting widely with the family law sector, and ensuring its recommendations are informed by the Australian Law Reform Commission Review.
TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019
