Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence
The submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs regarding its inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence was prepared by the Law Council of Australia.
Particularly relevant to this Inquiry into the insidious and ubiquitous problem of family violence, now only heightened and magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is the empirical evidence which suggests a correlation between families with complex needs and those who require the courts as a form of dispute resolution.
Such families tend to face a combination of factors that adversely impact on the health, safety and well-being of children and caregivers alike. Addressing these factors may be the key to improving the ability of these families to access justice and other supports where family violence occurs. More importantly, it may also remove families’ need to do so by preventing violence from ever occurring.
It is well-recognised that in the family law system, separation is a highly stressful and dangerous event which is disproportionately associated with allegations (or the likelihood) of family violence. This is graphically illustrated by the fact that seventy percent of proceedings before the family law courts involve allegations or the risk of family violence.
You can read the full submission below.
Last Updated on 25/08/2020
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