Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth’s Manchester family law team has succeeded in the Court of Appeal in a complex international Hague Convention case. The firm said the case will help others in a similar situation in future hearings. Partner Nathaniel Groarke…
Legal advice website for domestic violence survivors launches in 23 languages
Escaping with her two-year-old twin boys, Rachael Natoli left her seven-and-a-half-year abusive relationship in April 2015. At the hands of her then-husband, she suffered emotional and psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse. “I moved [to Australia] in…
Australia’s Attorney-General argues sperm donor’s case as parent
The Australian High Court has heard a case concerning the legal parentage of a child born following sperm donation. Susan Parsons, who gave birth to the child, entered into an informal arrangement with a friend, Robert Masson, to conceive through home…
Let’s Talk About Economically Abusive Relationships
Rina’s marriage problems began two days before her wedding, when her fiance’s parents demanded gold and a car. Her parents agreed to part of the demands to ensure the planned marriage went ahead. But the 27-year-old Indian woman’s marriage to…
‘Lives are being destroyed’ – legal assistance funding needs urgent review, huge budget boost
The dire state of legal assistance funding in Australia has been highlighted as a matter of critical importance in the Law Council of Australia’s 2019-20 Pre-Budget Submission, with a boost of at least $310 million a year required to address critical…
Violence in families on the increase
Key members of Hedland’s Aboriginal communities came together last week to observe the Ochre Ribbon Campaign, hosted by founders the Aboriginal Family Law Service. The Ochre Ribbon Campaign was started in 2014 by the AFLS after witnessing the need for…
Coalition pledges an extra $328m to counter domestic violence
The Coalition has pledged an extra $328m over three years to fight domestic violence, with frontline services, safe places and prevention strategies to receive the biggest grants. The commitment is contained in the fourth action plan, released on Tuesday, the…
Judge Salvatore Vasta snipes at Family Court’s ‘new-found work ethic’
Federal Circuit Court judge Salvatore Vasta has taken aim at the Family Court’s work ethic and the timing of five appeal judgments that led to speculation he could be “the worst judge in Australia”. In a memo sent to Federal…
New laws needed to tackle Aust dowry abuse
New national laws are needed to classify the cultural practice of dowry abuse as a form of domestic violence, the final report of a Senate inquiry has found. The report, released on Thursday, also recommended the government make changes to…
Family court reform must be driven by child safety
Emily, a young woman I interviewed, ran away from home when she was sixteen, six years after the Family Court ordered her to live with her father who had been sexually abusing her since she was a small child. She…