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$13.5m pledged to better support ‘at-risk’ participants in family law system
The Morrison government is setting up a new pilot program to better identify and support families who are entering the family law system and are at risk of domestic violence.
Jerome Doraisamy
The pilot program, to be known as the Lighthouse Project, will screen participants involved in family law parenting matters for risk factors when a matter is filed, with cases to be triaged according to the level of risk, and supports provided to families identified as being in need.
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Legislation introduced on Wednesday, 26 August via the Family Law Amendment (Risk Screening Protections) Bill 2020, will pave the way for the establishment of the program, to be run through the Adelaide, Brisbane and Parramatta family law registries, Attorney-General Christian Porter MP and Minister for Women senator Marise Payne said in a joint statement.
A specialist family violence list will also operate in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in these registries for high-risk cases, the pair added, “enabling them to be fast-tracked with appropriate security arrangements in place”.
“This approach will enable early identification and ongoing assessment and management of risks to vulnerable people who are navigating the family law system,” Mr Porter said.
“The legislation introduced today will support this important initiative by ensuring that the information generated and obtained during the family safety risk screening process is both confidential and inadmissible.
“This means that families will be able to freely and confidently participate in the process, enabling risks to be identified and parties to be referred to the social support services that they might need outside of the court process.”
Senator Payne said that the specialist family violence list will be named the Evatt List, in honour of the Honourable Elizabeth Evatt AC who was the first Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia.
“The courts play a crucial role in addressing family violence. This legislation will enhance the family law system’s approach to risk identification and management, and improve outcomes for vulnerable families,” she said.
“It is another example of the Morrison’s [government’s] continuing commitment to addressing family violence in Australia and to ensuring that the family law system protects victims of family violence.”
The $13.5 million funding follows the pledged $340 million in funding as part of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, the announced $150 million COVID-19 Domestic Violence Support Package, and approximately $20 million in additional legal assistance funding to support those affected by domestic violence during the pandemic.
