The Attorney General, Christian Porter has announced a new court program for separating couples will be trialled in four Federal Circuit Court Registries from January next year.
Mr Porter said the Small Claims Property Pilot will make it simpler and more cost-effective for couples to divide their property assets during the separation process.
“Property cases make up over half of all new family law cases filed in the Family Court and a third of all family law cases filed in the Federal Circuit Court each year,” said Mr Porter.
Mr Porter said the Pilot will run for two years in Brisbane, Parramatta, Adelaide and Melbourne and will provide a streamlined court service to couples with property pools under $500,000.
“By reducing the workload on those courts, it’s hoped wait times can also be reduced for families with more complex cases,” said Mr Porter.
The project will be funded under the Government’s Women’s Economic Security Package. The Pilot locations were selected following advice received from the Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Hon William Alstergren.
Mr Porter said the program will be designed and run by the Federal Circuit Court, with an independent evaluation to be conducted at the end of next year.
