Pledge to reform Family Court 'empty rhetoric' without funding, Chief Justice says
Pledges to reform the handling of domestic violence cases are just empty political rhetoric without any funding to back it up, the Chief Justice of the Family Court says.
Diana Bryant was present as anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty delivered a petition to the major parties demanding family law reform.
All major parties pledged support for the petition and a five-point plan designed to make the system safer for children involved in family law disputes.
The petition was delivered on what would have been the 14th birthday of Ms Batty's son, Luke Batty, who was murdered by his father two years ago.
More than 90 organisations have backed the plan, Safety First in Family Law, saying legal hurdles in the Family Court system currently make it hard for vulnerable women to leave dangerous situations.
The plan calls for new laws that would disallow the cross-examination of victims by abusers in court, increased funding for legal aid services and mediation with specialist lawyers and social workers.
It also urges increased support for women in regional Australia and those with disabilities or increased access challenges.
Children at risk from long delays in court process
The Chief Justice said she supported the five-point plan but it would require federal money to implement it, otherwise the plan was simply "empty rhetoric".
She said an injection of as little as $6 million would help the court start to make changes.
"I want to make it clear though, up to this time, although ... funding has been made available and promised to provide better access to justice and to assist those affected by family violence, so far, surprisingly, not $1 has been committed to the cause," she said.
"My message is the court would like to implement measures consistent with the five-point plan but all aspects affecting the courts would require a financial investment.
"New measures and initiatives can't be met from existing resources."
Ms Batty said children were often put at risk of domestic violence because the courts fail them, with some families having to wait up to three years for their cases to be resolved.
"What we know is that the system is over burdened and underfunded," Ms Batty said.
"But more than that, it is significant cultural change, so violence is better recognised and responded to.
"I think we are in a better position than we've ever been to make change and I think that we have, each state government, and particularly here in Victoria, is making huge change with their response to violence."
More than $500 million has been committed to tackle family violence in the Victorian state budget following the final report of the landmark Royal Commission into Family Violence.