Tanya Plibersek dodges question on family law review

Labor women’s spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has acknowledged the “very important federal responsibility” of family law, but not answered a question over whether her party will commit to a review of the embattled system.

Labor’s federal women’s spokeswoman has dodged a question on family law reform, after Queensland’s Domestic Violence Prevention Minister called for a review to make victims and children safer.

Tanya Plibersek was asked on Monday whether Labor would commit to a review of the family law system, but did not give an answer.

It follows comments to The Courier-Mail by Queensland Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Shannon Fentiman, who said the family laws system was one of the biggest issues that family violence survivors raised with her.

“It’s been an issue for many years, and there hasn’t been a lot of change,” Ms Fentiman said.

“ … I think there needs to be a whole lot of work done, and probably an inquiry into the Family Court and how it deals, particularly, with violence against women and children.”

Labor women’s spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek (right) and candidate for Brisbane Madonna Jarrett. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Ms Plibersek said family law was “a very important element of federal government responsibility”.

“One of the most disappointing things that this government has done when it comes to family law is to say we’ve got delays in the Family Court, we’re going to fix that by abolishing the Family Court,” she told reporters in Brisbane.

“We know, of course, that families that are going through divorce need support to make sure that they can come to arrangements that put their children in the centre of decision making.

“That’s our priority – to make sure that children in divorcing families get all the support they need to grow up strong and healthy and confident.”

Meanwhile, Ms Plibersek was asked whether she would retain the education and women’s portfolios if Labor won government, but she said she had not spoken to Labor leader Anthony Albanese about the issue because “we are weeks away from an election” and her primary focus was on winning.

Originally published as Tanya Plibersek dodges question on family law review