Speak up against the Andrews-Hanson Family Law Inquiry

Despite the recent expert led Australian Law Reform Commission's review of the family law system delivered in March this year, and a Parliamentary Inquiry as recent as 2017, Prime Minister Morrison has announced yet another inquiry into the family law system, and installed Senator Pauline Hanson as Co-Chair.

Senator Hanson then said on Radio National that women lie about domestic violence to obtain advantage in the family court. Later in the week, the Chair of the Committee, Kevin Andrews refused to sanction Hanson for these comments.

This new Inquiry is unnecessary and dangerous. There are serious concerns that victims ...

Despite the recent expert led Australian Law Reform Commission's review of the family law system delivered in March this year, and a Parliamentary Inquiry as recent as 2017, Prime Minister Morrison has announced yet another inquiry into the family law system, and installed Senator Pauline Hanson as Co-Chair.

Senator Hanson then said on Radio National that women lie about domestic violence to obtain advantage in the family court. Later in the week, the Chair of the Committee, Kevin Andrews refused to sanction Hanson for these comments.

This new Inquiry is unnecessary and dangerous. There are serious concerns that victims/survivors will be silenced. Meanwhile, dangerous decisions that harm women and children are being made in the family law system right now.

Please email the Prime Minister and key members of parliament and ask them to put safety first, abandon the Andrews-Hanson inquiry and instead immediately implement strategies to make family law safer for victim/survivors.

*If you would like to write directly to members of the government to express your concerns on a more individual basis, the email addresses can be found on their parliamentary websites.

- This action is being run in partnership with the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance -

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Email key decision-makers

Use the tool below to send a message to key members of the Government, Opposition and crossbench. Your email will be sent to: the Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Women, Opposition Leader, Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for the Preventing Family Violence and Senators Lambie, Waters, Patrick and Rebekha Sharkie MP.

-- Please make sure you don't disclose any information that might put your safety at risk, or identify other parties to any matter. --

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Hello,

I am writing to you as a concerned member of the community to urge you to please ensure the Andrews-Hanson Family Law Inquiry is abandoned, and reforms that will put the safety of victim/survivors first are prioritised instead.

As identified by the recent parliamentary inquiry, 'the family law system is 'in crisis' and is 'failing' to protect children".

The epidemic of violence against women and their children that is devastating our communities, is also deeply relevant to family law reform. Up to 85% of matters in the family court involve family violence and abuse.

The crisis in the family court is urgent and our community cannot afford to focus on anything but reforms that will put safety first. Lives are on the line.

I am extremely concerned that victim/survivors of family violence and abuse will not even feel safe to give evidence to the new Andrews-Hanson Inquiry as it has been set up.

It is hard enough to come forward and disclose family violence and abuse. Most women, men and children already don't do so for fear they won't be believed. Without their evidence and meaningful participation, how can such an Inquiry be considered fair and balanced?

I'm also aware that the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, Our Watch, and women and children’s safety organisations nationwide have spoken out against this Inquiry and support action being taken on existing recommendations for evidence-based strategies to make family law safer for adult and child survivors of family violence and abuse.

Please abandon this dangerous vehicle and get to work on reforming the family law system in accordance with the evidence responding to the recommendations of the independent Australian Law Reform Commission and the most recent Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Parliamentary Inquiry into a Better Family Law System to Support and Protect those affected by Family Violence.

Thank you for your consideration,

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