Appearance before Inquiry into Issues Facing Diaspora Communities in Australia

06/11/2020

Members of the Association’s Family Law Committee, Suzanne Christie SC and Claire Cantrall, appeared today before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s Inquiry into Issues facing Diaspora Communities in Australia, with the Association’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Elizabeth Pearson.

The Association’s submissions concerned three issues:

a. barriers to diaspora communities in engaging with Australia's justice institutions;

b. the need to fund specialist, culturally competent legal assistance and Legal Aid; and

c. the importance of properly funded specialist services, including a stand-alone, specialist Family Court hearing exclusively family law matters, in dealing appropriately with family violence.

The Association’s opening statement to the inquiry is available here.

The Association’s submission can be viewed here.