Explanatory Memorandum
Circulated By Authority of the Attorney-General, the Honourable Robert Mcclelland MPCONSULTATION STATEMENT
The scope of referred powers on de facto financial matters has been a matter of consultation with the States and Territory Governments for several years. This culminated in a decision at the November 2002 meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to proceed with Commonwealth implementation of references of State powers in this area, with support from a majority of State and Territory Governments.
Over the period November 2006 to March 2007, the Attorney-General's Department undertook consultations on the amendments extending the operation of the Act to de facto financial matters, with the States and Territories, the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and the Family Law Council. Consultation on the Bill has also been undertaken with affected Government agencies.
The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia were consulted about the financial impact of additional workload generated by the proposed amendments.