An estimated seven million RRR Australians struggle to access legal advice, simply because of where they live, writes Morry Bailes. Regional, remote and rural (RRR) Australia is home to a broad cross-section of people, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people…
Surrogate innocents in legal limbo
Kyla Booth and her husband Matthew tried for 10 years to have a baby before being told Booth would never carry a child to full term. Adenomyosis and blocked tubes were just some of the fertility hurdles she faced. Instead, the…
Is Middle Australia Ready for Gay Marriage?
If Australians vote Yes for gay marriage in the postal survey that began this week, the bill will be debated in Parliament. The survey is more than a measure of Australia’s social mores. It is a political and legal minefield,…
Surrogacy decision leaves children without parents
Hundreds of Australian children born overseas through commercial surrogacy arrangements have been left without legal parents, following a decision of the full Family Court. The ruling has prompted calls for urgent legislative change so that children are not left in…
More couples like Brad and Angelina are trying again after divorce
While saying “I do” is no protection against infidelity or betrayal — the death knell of most marriages — can it instead mark the beginning of a healthier, more honest relationship? One in two marriages end in divorce, but for…
Baby-boomer parents push prenups to keep property in the family
“We would like to give you $700,000 to help you to buy a house, but we want you to sign an agreement to make sure that if something happens to you and [insert name of partner] the money stays with…
Children as young as 11 could start hormone treatment to change their sex after landmark court ruling
• Children as young as 11 could begin hormone treatment to change their sex • The landmark Sydney case would mean the child wouldn’t need court approval • Five Family Court appeal judges will sit on the case to heard…
Experts welcome comprehensive review of Family Law Act
Outgoing Family Court Chief Justice Diana Bryant AO has underscored the vital importance of one of the most significant reviews of Australia’s Family Law Act in 40 years. In an interview with Fairfax last month, the outgoing Family Court Chief…
$9.87 Million Funding Boost for Family Law Services
In a move to assist family law dispute resolution, Attorney-General George Brandis on behalf of the federal government has announced on Friday a $9.87 million funding package. The new family dispute resolution service will be piloted at eight locations around…
More women lawyers in Australia for the first time
New figures show women lawyers now outnumber their male colleagues in Australia for the first time. Leading Coastal lawyer Leanne Topfer said the huge shift in the gender imbalance in the legal profession was inevitable. “It was always a matter of time because so many young women…