View the report as separate downloadable parts:
Members
List of Recommendations
Terms of Reference
Acronyms and abbreviations
Chapter 1—Introduction
Referral and terms of reference
Conduct of the inquiry
About this interim report
Summary of submissions
Work of the committee
Structure of the report
Acknowledgements
Chapter 2—Australia's Family Law System
Introduction
Services that couples use to resolve disputes following separation
Overview of the family law courts
Government support for family law services
Establishment and reforms to the family law system
Key legislative changes
Recent reviews of the family law system
Recent and current initiatives in the family law system
Chapter 3—The experience of parties to family law matters
Introduction
Impacts on people's lives
Challenges in engaging with the legal system
Parenting arrangements
Child support
Domestic violence
Property matters
Chapter 4—Systemic issues
Bias
Family consultants and expert witnesses
Adversarial versus inquisitorial systems
Misuse of system and processes
Professional misconduct
Chapter 5—Legal fees and costs
Introduction
The costs of private legal representation
Cost-saving measures
Legal aid
Chapter 6—Delays in the courts
Performance of the Family Court
The impacts of delays
Factors leading to delays
Different approaches
Recent and proposed reforms
Chapter 7—Domestic violence
Brief overview of family violence orders
Family violence orders and the Family Law Act
How does the Family Court obtain evidence of family violence?
Family violence orders in practice
Standard of proof
Consistency between family law and family violence orders.
Information sharing
Training of family law professionals
Chapter 8—Parenting matters
Complex legislative framework
Presumption of shared parental responsibility
Children's views
Parental alienation
Enforcement of parenting orders
Children's contact services
Grandparents
Chapter 9—Property matters
Property settlement
Financial disclosure
Family violence
Children
Lack of legal assistance
Dispute resolution
Court reforms
Simplification of the property provisions
Online Dispute Resolution Systems
Binding Financial Agreements
Chapter 10—Child support
Introduction
Background
The Child Support Scheme: its purpose and clients
Administration of the Child Support Scheme
Collecting child support payments
Recovering outstanding child support
Interactions with the family law system
Conflict and domestic violence
Chapter 11—Support services
Introduction
Scope and availability of support services
Family Advocacy and Support Services
Services funded by the Australian Government
Chapter 12—Alternative dispute resolution
Family dispute resolution
Mediation
Arbitration
Conciliation
Other forms of dispute resolution
Australian Labor Party Additional Comments
Introduction
Interim Recommendations by Labor Members
Previous inquiries and existing recommendations
Issues raised in previous reports
Presumption of equal shared parental responsibility
Mandated pathway to equal time or substantial or significant time
Accreditation Scheme for Family Consultants and Expert Witnesses
Risk screening and triaging
Disclosure of assets in financial matters
Resourcing of courts
Merger Bills
Conclusion
Appendix 1—Submissions, Additional Information, Answers to Questions on Notice and Tabled Documents
Appendix 2—Hearings
Appendix 3—List of family law inquiries and reports
Appendix 4—Recommendations from recent inquiries
Parliamentary Inquiry into a better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence
Family Law for the Future — An Inquiry into the Family Law System: Final Report
Appendix 5—List of child support inquiries and reports
Appendix 6—Costs of the Children Table 2020 - Services Australia
Appendix 7—List of parliamentary committee inquiries into the provisions of bills to amend the Family Law Act 1975
Appendix 8—Corrigendum
Corrigendum to interim report tabled in October 2020