Opening Statement to Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties) Bill 2018
1 August 2018
Morry Bailes, President, Law Council of Australia
Good afternoon. My name is Morry Bailes and I am the President of the Law Council of Australia. I am joined this afternoon by Mr Paul Doolan, the Deputy Chair of the Law Council’s specialist Family Law Section.
As the Committee will be aware, the Law Council is the peak national body representing the legal profession in Australia and we thank the Committee for the opportunity to provide evidence to its inquiry this afternoon.
The Law Council welcomes this inquiry into the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties) Bill, and acknowledges that for survivors of family violence, the prospect of being cross-examined by a violent ex-partner can cause significant emotional distress and trauma and discourage them from starting or continuing litigation and from exercising their legal rights.
Read full opening statement below.
Last Updated on 03/08/2018