Papers to note: Family Violence - A National Legal Response

23/11/2010

The Australian and NSW Law Reform Commissions were asked in 2009 to examine the interaction of Commonwealth, state and territory laws relating to family violence and child protection. The report, Family Violence - A National Legal Response, makes a number of other recommendations to improve legal frameworks and practices across jurisdictions including:

• amending the Family Law Act to give Children’s Courts the same power as Magistrates Courts

• national reforms to sexual assault laws that give victims greater protections in court

• nationally consistent child protection reforms

• corresponding jurisdictions giving all courts dealing with violence protection orders the ability to continue dealing with family matters on an interim basis

• improving the quality and use of evidence, to make it easier for victims to have their stories heard in court

• the further development of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

**23 November 2010 **