Submissions called on Family Court reform legislation

Submissions have been called on the Government's Family Court reform legislation, due 13 February 2013. The Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill is being considered by the Justice and Electoral Committee. The information below may assist in writing submissions.

Information from the government:

The Bill is available here. Further information is available on the Parliament website here and the Ministry of Justice website here. The speeches in Parliament from the First Reading of the Bill are available here. A guide to making a submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee is available here.

News items:

The following earlier Clearinghouse news items contain many links to research, media and responses from agencies and individuals, including on how the reforms would impact people experiencing domestic and family violence:

'Family Court legislation introduced into Parliament', 4/12/12

'Silent Injustice: Women's Experiences of the Family Court', 30/10/12

'Proposed Family Court changes - information from NZ Law Society', 30/10/12

'Criticisms of Family Court reforms continue; charges for family cases reduced', 12/10/12

'Family Court reforms announced; family violence sector responds', 2/8/12

'Advocates continue to speak out against new Family Court fees', 9/7/12

2013 media:

'Plans for Family Court attacked', Stuff, 4/2/13

Additional information and research:

NZFVC produced a Selected Bibliography (list of key references and research) for the Family Court review in November 2011.

A just-published UK report: Coy, M., Perks, K., Scott, E. & Tweedale, R. (2012). Picking up the pieces: Domestic violence and child contact, London, UK: Rights of Women and Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit

WAVES Trust submission information is available here.

Family Violence Death Review Committee submission on the Public Consultation Paper, 24 February 2012