On Friday, CSMC spoke to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ inquiry into family violence orders.
The Federal Government hearings were established to investigate how to provide better access for victim-survivors in the family law system, Family Violence Orders (FVO), and the effective enforcement of those orders.
“Family violence orders do not always serve their intended function of ensuring the safety of victim-survivors, for a range of reasons,” said Chair of the Committee, Ms Susan Templeman MP.
“While important changes to the family law system came into effect in May this year to ensure the safety of children is at the heart of every decision relating to parenting orders, we have heard there is more still to be done.
“These public hearings provide an opportunity to explore what the Australian Government can do to provide better access to family violence orders (FVO) and the effective enforcement of them.”
During the hearing, CSMC shared the panel with women with lived experience and other great advocates.
CSMC’s submission can be read here (it has been redacted in sections to comply with federal laws).
We called for:
- Children to be recognised as primary victims of family violence and always given the right to be heard in a way that is safe for them.
- A better system of legal support that does not financially and emotionally cripple mothers trying to keep their children safe.
- Courts to properly recognise the impacts of violence and stop using the parental alienation arguments against mothers who are still traumatised
Will it make a difference? Eventually. And it is always the stories from single mothers and their children that make the greatest impact. Thank you to all who contributed.
