Rosie Batty renews push for Royal Commission into Australia’s family law system

ROSIE Batty has renewed her push for a Royal Commission into the “broken” family law system which she says is failing women and children.

Rosie Batty has renewed her push for a Royal Commission into the family law system. Picture: Steve Pohlner

ROSIE Batty has renewed her push for a Royal Commission into the “broken” family law system which she says is failing women and children.

The former Australian of the Year, whose son Luke was murdered by his father in 2014, said a Royal Commission would “blow our minds” with traumatic stories of family ­violence victims who were failed by the Family Court.

Appearing at a parliamentary inquiry into the system, Ms Batty said it was “overburdened and underfunded”.

Rosie Batty has renewed her push for a Royal Commission into the family law system. Picture: Steve Pohlner

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She questioned how the federal government could be willing to spend $160 million on a same-sex marriage plebiscite while it failed to invest in improvements to family law.

“We can’t convey strongly enough how broken this system is. It’s unimaginable,” Ms Batty said.

“We have had decades of suffering through this system. It has never worked yet it goes on, getting worse and worse and worse. It is time for action.”

Ms Batty, chief executive of the Luke Batty Foundation, said children were being forced by the Family Court to spend time with abusive parents, putting them at risk and causing some to become suicidal.

She also raised concerns about the cost of navigating the system for women.

Ms Batty said she knew of many who had been forced to sell their homes and rely on loans from friends while their partners pursued ongoing legal battles when they were vulnerable.

“The family law system is another avenue for the abuse to continue,” Ms Batty said.

Ms Batty encouraged the parliamentary committee to support wideranging reforms to put victims first, including providing more financial support for women and children and for lawyers and judges to be better trained about family violence.

“All possible steps must be taken to deliver a safe path through the family law system so our children have the chance at a better life,” she said.

Ms Batty acknowledged the government had already made some changes, including stopping perpetrators being able to directly cross-exam their victims in court.

But she warned the systemic issues would take years to fix.

If you need help, call 24/7 family violence response on 1800 015 188, family violence counselling on 1800 RESPECT or MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.

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