Committee considers reforms to better protect victim-survivors of family violence

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold public hearings on Friday, 23 August 2024 and Friday, 30 August 2024 to further inform its inquiry into family violence orders.

Chair of the Committee, Susan Templeman MP, said, "While important changes to the family law system came into effect in May this year to ensure the safety of children is at the heart of every decision relating to parenting orders, we have heard there is more still to be done. These public hearings provide an opportunity to explore what the Australian Government can do to provide better access to family violence orders (FVO) and the effective enforcement of them.

"Family violence orders do not always serve their intended function of ensuring the safety of victim-survivors, for a range of reasons.

"In these hearings, the Committee will hear from advocacy groups, legal professionals and researchers to better understand the measures that are needed to keep victim-survivors safe. We are also interested in exploring how FVOs could be more accessible for victims of violence going through the family law system," Ms Templeman said.

Public hearings details

Date: Friday, 23 August 2024
Time: 9am to 2pm AEST
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference

Date: Friday, 30 August 2024

Time: 10:30am to 4pm AEST
Location: via videoconference

The hearings will be live streamed on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live.

Further details about the inquiry, including published submissions and hearing programs, are available on the inquiry webpage at www.aph.gov.au/familyviolenceorders.

 

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