NSW Law Society welcomes review into the delivery of family
law services
Thursday 20 November 2008
The Law Society of New South Wales has today welcomed a Commonwealth
Government report recommending there be one central court merging the family law
services of the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court to create a more
efficient system.
Law Society President Hugh Macken today said the restructuring of the Family Court
and the Federal Magistrates Court into one family court has long been advocated by
members of the legal profession and is the most efficient way of enhancing the
administration of justice in a very key and sensitive area of law.
“The current Federal Family Law Court system requires revision because it is
unnecessarily complex, involves a duplication of administrative resources and has
created a range of structural and other problems,” said Mr Macken.
“Tensions have developed between the Federal Court and the Family Court in
respect to the provision of family law services. This includes family relationship
centres, the maintaining of two registries and differing rules applying to what are
essentially the same type of relationship breakdown disputes.
“Neither the Federal Government, the legal profession or the public can afford
inefficiencies in the delivery of legal services.”
“It would be clearly preferable that any monies generated by saving making the
system more efficient be allocated to enhancing court services including family
relation centres and counselling services.
We look forward to working with Attorney General’s office in the rollout of new
administrative structures,” said Mr Macken.
Media contact: Maria Iannotti 0413 440 699 or 9926 0288
NEWS 
