Bill
Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023
passed, as at 2023-11-06. Attorney-General portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Attorney-General
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2023-03-29
- second reading — 2023-03-29
- second reading — 2023-05-09
- other — 2023-05-09
- second reading — 2023-05-10
- second reading — 2023-05-10
- other — 2023-05-11
- third reading — 2023-05-11
- introduced — 2023-06-13
- second reading — 2023-06-13
- second reading — 2023-09-11
- second reading — 2023-10-16
- second reading — 2023-10-17
- second reading — 2023-10-17
- committee — 2023-10-17
- committee — 2023-10-18
- third reading — 2023-10-19
- other — 2023-10-19
- passed — 2023-10-19
- royal assent — 2023-11-06
Divisions
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2023-03-29.
This bill amends the Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023 to strengthen protections and oversight in the enhanced information sharing framework under the Family Law Act 1975.
The amendments lower the threshold for court orders to require only a suspicion of abuse, neglect, or family violence, make it mandatory for information sharing agencies to advise the court on disclosure risks, and expand notification requirements when disclosing a notifier's identity.
The bill also adds a second statutory review of the amendments, to be conducted as soon as practicable after 3 years from commencement, in addition to the existing review after 12 months.
- Amends paragraphs 67ZBD(2)(a) and 67ZBE(2)(a) to require only a suspicion of abuse, neglect, or family violence for court orders.
- Changes 'may' to 'must' in subsection 67ZBG(2) to make it mandatory for information sharing agencies to provide advice to the court.
- Expands subsection 67ZBH(4) to require the court to notify and consider advice from information sharing agencies when disclosing a notifier's identity who is also a party.
- Adds a requirement for a review of the amendments to be conducted as soon as practicable after 3 years following commencement.
The amendments affect the family courts, information sharing agencies, and parties to family law proceedings, including notifiers of suspected child abuse or family violence.
Sources
em
em supp
em supp
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frl act