Australian Government to allow de facto couples access to federal family law courts

25/06/2008

The�Australian Government has today introduced legislation to allow for de facto couples to access the federal family law courts on property and maintenance matters. The Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008 will apply to de facto relationships that break down after the amendments commence in the states that have referred power to the Commonwealth and in the territories. View Mr McClelland's media release�and second reading speech>

The legislation has been welcomed by the Law Council of Australia and NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos.

25 June 2008