What you need to know about the decision to abolish the Family Court.

Australia's family law system is about to undergo its biggest change since it was established in the 1970s.

The Senate on Thursday passed legislation to merge the Family Court with the Federal Circuit Court, after Attorney-General Christian Porter squeezed through a deal with One Nation and independent senator, Rex Patrick.

There have been calls to overhaul the family court system for years, but this particular change has been met with criticism from key voices within the legal profession.

So what's changing exactly? And why are key groups so opposed to it?

Let's take a look.

Start from the beginning. What did the existing system look like?

When families are unable to agree on issues such as a custody and financial arrangements, these matters can be filed in one of two courts: the Federal Circuit Court or the Family Court.

The Federal Circuit Court is a generalist court that deals with a range of matters, including migration, copyright, and bankruptcy. But the bulk of its caseload — as much as 90 per cent — is family law. That includes 'less complex' matters including applications for divorce, spousal support and property disputes.

The Family Court, meanwhile, is a standalone, specialised court that handles more complex family law disputes, such as those that involve a child welfare agency, allegations of domestic abuse, mental health complexities and so on.

The courts follow different rules, forms and processes.

What's changing? And why?

The Family Court is essentially being scrapped and absorbed into the Federal Circuit Court.

By having a single entry point to the court system, Attorney-General Christian Porter argues that families will benefit from a more streamlined, uniform system in which disputes can be resolved faster and cheaper.

"Families who need to use the court to resolve matters at the end of a relationship have a right to expect the system will help them settle their matters quickly, efficiently and at as low cost as possible," Attorney-General Porter said.

"Unfortunately, for too many families, this has not been the reality as the system itself has been exacerbating the stress and pressure being experienced by users of the courts."

The courts will receive $4 million to implement the restructure.

Why are some people opposed to a more streamlined system?

Plenty from within the legal profession and in politics argue that this particular plan is not the right one.

Ahead of the decision, more than 155 stakeholders in the family law system — including the Law Council of Australia, Women's Legal Services Australia and 11 retired Family Court and Federal Circuit Court judges — signed a letter opposing the Attorney-General's "flawed" plan.

Their criticisms are many, but centre around the fact that specialised family law matters will no longer receive specialised treatment.

A key concern within that is what it could mean for the large portion of cases involving domestic violence and abuse, which evidence suggests require specialised treatment, including judges with specific family law experience. 

Listen: Domestic abuse doesn't always involve bruises and broken bones. Post continues after podcast.

This, some argue, is particularly necessary, given that in 40 per cent of Family Court matters in 2019-20, at least one litigant represented themselves.

Miranda Kaye, a senior lecturer in law at UTS and the co-author of a 2020 study into self-litigated cases in the Family Court, highlighted the possible issues that could arise in such cases following the merger.

"[The study authors] observed run-down state Federal Circuit Court buildings, which are not suitable for cases involving family violence allegations. This includes a lack of safe rooms and separate entrances and exits," she wrote via The Conversation. "Even where safety measures, such as video links or screens, were available in the courtroom, self-represented litigants were often unaware of them."

Horrified that the LNP just got rid of The Family Court. What will this mean for the vulnerable? Especially women and children?

— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) February 17, 2021

The passage of the Government’s flawed merger bill by the barest of margins is a disappointing outcome for Australian children and families and tasks judges with an impossible task. Read and share our latest joint press release https://t.co/0VzcCjnmaJ #auslaw #auspol #familylaw

— Community Legal Centres Australia (@CLCsAustralia) February 18, 2021

There is also concern that the merger will put an additional burden on an already overloaded FCC system.

"Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Family Court and FCC were facing delays of more than a year's worth of cases each," the Law Council of Australia said via a statement. 

"Two in three FCC judges already have more than 300 matters in their dockets, some more than 600. The Chief Judge of the FCC has previously indicated that the ideal number should be around 100 each."

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambi is among those to have echoed that concern.

"We’re asking judges to work like they’re someone in a burger joint … rushing about to get your orders filled and out the door as fast as possible," she said in the Senate on Wednesday.

"How is that justice? How does that bring any Australian justice, let alone Australian families?"

She demanded Attorney-General Christian Porter better resource the notoriously under-funded system.

"I hope you can wear it, mate, because you’re going to see a lot more hurt going on in these families," she said.

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