Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill passes first reading

Legislation to implement the Government's Family Court reforms has passed its first reading and been referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee. Submissions have not been called for yet. The select committee's report is due on 4 June 2013.

The Bill is available here. Further information is available on the Parliament website here and the Ministry of Justice website here.

Information is also available through other NZFVC news items listed here.

Provision to extend the definition of domestic violence in the Domestic Violence Act 1995 to include economic abuse was welcomed by Women's Refuge and Age Concern.