Family Court reform legislation introduced into Parliament

Judith Collins has introduced legislation on the Government's Family Court reforms into Parliament. Once the Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill has had its first reading, it will be referred to select committee and a submissions process. The Government says it will seek to do this when Parliament sits on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Labour raised concerns that it had been timed to avoid proper parliamentary scrutiny. Charles Chauvel said, "... the concern is that submissions will be called for over the Christmas/New Year period, when many legal and counselling practices are closed, minimising the likelihood of a good number of quality submissions from those with experience of the likely effect of the reforms."

Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill

'Family Court reform set to begin', Press Release: New Zealand Government, Scoop, 27/11/12

'Alarm bells over Family Court reform process - Chauvel', Voxy, 27/11/12

'Parliament To Sit In The Morning Next Week', Scoop, 29/11/12

Information on the Family Court Review is available from the Ministry of Justice website and in other NZFVC news items listed here.