Family Essay Plans - LCDMIs

PARENTING PLANS (CHILDREN) - Legal Consequences of Separation

• Family Law Reform Act 1995 (Cth) s.64B

• SMH, 2010 - ‘Shared babies at risk of anxiety’

PARENTING ORDERS (CHILDREN) - Legal Consequences of Separation

• Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006 (Cth) s.60CA

• Herbert & Oliver (2023)

• ABC, 2011 - ‘Family law is failing kids’

CHILD SUPPORT (CHILDREN) - Legal Consequences of Separation

• Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 (Cth)

• Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth)

• ABC, 2025 - ‘Parents able to ‘manipulate’ child support system free of consequences: ombudsman report’ - 153,000 parents currently have a debt, totalling $1.9 billion in December 2024

DIVISION OF PROPERTY (PROPERTY) - Legal Consequences of Separation

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s.75 and s.79

• Farmer v Bramley 2000 - wife awarded $750,000

FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS (PROPERTY) - Legal Consequences of Separation

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s.90, 90B, 90C

• Thorne v Kennedy (2017)

• News.com, 2017 - ‘Landmark High Court ruling spells ‘death knell’ of pre-nuptial agreements in Australia, experts say’

DIVORCE

• Matrimonial Act 1959 (Cth)

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s.48

• ABC, 2020 - ‘How Australia introduced ‘no-fault divorce’ - and why our family law system is under review again’

• Easterlefa & Giannopoulos (2013)

• ALRC - 95% of cases avoid courts

• Census, 2021 - 30% of marriages end in divorce

ADVOS - Domestic Violence

• Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 - 2 years jail and/or $5,500 fine for breaches

• BOCSAR - 34% are breached in first month

• BOCSAR - stop violence, intimidation and harassment in 4/5 cases

• R v Goodbun (2016)

• ABC, 2014 - ‘New police powers allow on-the-spot AVOs in NSW domestic violence cases’

BAIL - Domestic Violence

• Bail Act 1978 (NSW)

• Bail Act 2013 (NSW)

• ABC, 2024 - Molly Ticehurst Case

• Bail and Other Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence) Act 2024 (NSW)

• Channel 10, 2024 - ‘Alleged domestic violence offenders to wear ankle monitors under NSW bail reform’ - 33% less likely to reoffend

RELATIONSHIPS NSW - Domestic Violence

• Men’s Behaviour Change Program - ‘Taking Responsibility’

• Daily Telegraph, 2025 - ‘2000 NSW men admit they’re a danger to their families, need help’

ROLES OF (COURTS) - Federal Circuit and Family Court

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

• Farmer v Bramley (2000)

• The Guardian, 2017 - ‘Obscenely high: how family court costs are destroying parents and their children’ - accrued more than $860,000 in legal fees

ROLES OF (FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION)

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s.10F

• Sydney Morning Herald, 2021 - ‘The outside of collaborative divorce: Families with ‘skin in the game’ avoiding court’

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s.60 → 95% of disputes are settled outside of court

ROLES OF (NGOS)

• Keeping Them Safe - $750 million to expand the roles of NGOs

• Luke Batty Foundation

(ROLES OF) MEDIA

• Yahoo News, 2025 - ‘Hannah Clark Case’

• Small Steps 4 Hannah

FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT (SHARED PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY) ACT 2006 - Changing Nature of Parental Responsibilities

• Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006

• SMH, 2010 - ‘Shared babies at risk of anxiety’

• Seaton v Fogarty (2018)

2011 AMENDMENT (FAMILY VIOLENCE AND OTHER MEASURES) - Changing Nature of Parental Responsibilities

• Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2011

• National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (2009-2021)

• SMH, 2011 - ‘Family law changes anger men’s groups’

LONE FATHERS ASSOCIATION INC - Changing Nature of Parental Responsibilities

• Lone Fathers Association of Australia

• Family Voice, 2023 ‘Father Losing Even More Ground in the Family Court’

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998 - Care and Protection of Children

• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 - s.27 (mandatory reporting), s.227-228 ($22,000 fine or 2 years imprisonment)

• Daily Telegraph, 2025 - ‘More than 113,000 Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) reports made to DCJ’

• R v Thomas Sam; R v Manju Sam (2009)

KEEP THEM SAFE PROGRAM 2009 - Care and Protection of Children

• Wood Inquiry

• Keep Them Safe Program 2009

• Children and Young Persons (Wood Inquiry Recommendation) Act 2009 - 106 recommendations

• R v BW & SW (2009)

• ABC, 2025 - ‘Video shows childcare worker hitting baby and laughing about it at Affinity Education’

CATHOLIC CARE - Care and Protection of Children

• Catholic Care - ‘Brighter Futures’ program

• Catholic Care, 2025 - ‘Child, Youth & Famil Services’

LEGISLATIVE REFORMS - Same-Sex Relationships

• Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws Reform) Act 2008 (Cth)

• Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 (Cth) - 61.1% voted yes in plebiscite

• The Guardian, 2017 - ‘Australia says yes to same-sex marriage in historical postal survey’ - “unequivocal and overwhelming”

ADOPTION AMENDMENT (SAME-SEX COUPLES) ACT 2010 (NSW) - Same-Sex Relationships

• Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Act 2010 (NSW)

• William and Jane (2010)

• News.com, 2024 - ‘Backwards: Australia’s same-sex adoption shame unveiled’

NSW GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS LOBBY - Same Sex Relationships

• NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

• O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, 2021 - ‘NSW Anti-Discrimination laws outdated and ineffective’

SURROGACY ACT 2010 (NSW) - Surrogacy and Birth Technologies

• Surrogacy Act 2010 (NSW)

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) → child’s best interests

• SBS, 2022 - ‘The Feed: A single father through surrogacy’

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT 2007 (NSW) - Surrogacy and Birth Technologies

• Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007 (NSW) → $275,000 or 2 years jail for commercial surrogacy

• The Project, 2025 - ‘IVF Mix-Up Leads to Baby Swap’

SURROGACY AUSTRALIA - Surrogacy and Birth Technologies

• Surrogacy Australia Support Service

COOPERATION AND RESOLVING CONFLICT

1. Parenting Orders - Consequences of Separation

2. Financial Agreements - Consequences of Separation

3. Family Dispute Resolution - Roles Of

COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE

1. ADVOs - Domestic Violence

2. Bail - Domestic Violence

3. Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) - Care and Protection

CHANGING VALUES

1. Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006 - Changing Nature of Parental Responsibility

2. Legislative Reforms - Same Sex Marriage

3. Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007 (NSW) - Surrogacy and Birth Technologies

LAW REFORM

1. Bail - Domestic Violence

2. Legislative Reforms - Same Sex Marriage

3. Divorce