378:
practices across the federal family law jurisdiction, with changes in judicial structures and reporting relationships. According to the report, all review submissions, with the exception of that provided by the
Federal Magistrates' Court, "considered that the most effective model for the delivery by the Courts of family law services would be a single family court, with two separate judicial divisions serviced by a single administration." The proposed federal model is similar to that of the Family Court of Western Australia, which the Law Council of Australia, in its submission, had noted as "providing a useful model of the structure and functioning of an integrated Family Court". The Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia,
1453:
31:
398:, the Commonwealth government provides almost all funding for the operation of the Family Court of WA. The Western Australian government issues an invoice to the Commonwealth, on a quarterly basis, for the cost of operations, and receives payment from the Commonwealth. In 2007–08, the Court's operating budget was approximately $ 17m, $ 10.6m of which was for staff and judicial salaries. In that financial year, expenditure exceeded budget by $ 1.27m and by July 2008, the Court was carrying a cash deficit position of almost $ 200,000.
102:
40:
342:. The Family Court of Western Australia is an integrated court, in that it combines the functions of a superior court and a lower court. Officially, the Family Court is two courts in one - the Family Court itself (constituted by its judges) and a magistrates' court (constituted by family law magistrates). Its magistrates' division is officially differentiated from the main
434:
adoption orders and other related orders, and the court then issues the appropriate orders. The court also releases information from past adoption cases at the request of the
Department of Communities. Officers at the court coordinate the processing of adoption applications and release of information as well as answering enquiries from the public.
323:. Although funded by the Commonwealth Government, it is the only state-based family court in Australia. The reason for the creation of the court as a state court was to bestow additional jurisdiction related to family law on the court, which were beyond the scope of federal power, such as de facto arrangements and adoptions.
502:
All the Court's judges, apart from Ciara Tyson, hold dual commissions; on appointment to office, they are also appointed to the
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1). In addition to their judicial role in relation to family law matters, Judges of the Family Court of WA are often
450:
on 1 March 2009, any person wishing to enter into a surrogacy arrangement must comply with all the procedures set out under the Act and
Regulations if they propose to apply to the Family Court of WA for a parentage order. If a child is conceived through a surrogacy arrangement before the Act came
373:
preferred to keep a state-based family court (rather than referring family law matters to a
Commonwealth court). These included concerns over the demarcation of federal and state jurisdiction and its effect on litigants, that the court could exercise related state jurisdiction, and to "keep the
665:
433:
Elsewhere in
Australia, the legal aspects of adoption are dealt with either in the Supreme or District Courts of each state and territory. In Western Australia, the Family Court of Western Australia is responsible for the approval of adoption applications in the state. Judges of the court make
377:
In 2008, the federal
Attorney-General announced a review of the delivery of family law services by the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court. A November 2008 report set out a possible framework of governance options to achieve a more integrated system of case management
446:. Judges of the court may make parentage orders and other related orders. A parentage order transfers the parentage of a child from his or her surrogate birth parent/s to the child's arranged parents. The arranged parents then become the child's legal parents. After commencement of the
503:
required after hours and on weekends to determine applications under the
Telecommunications (Interception) Act from law enforcement agencies, relating to authorisations for carrying out telephone surveillance activities. In 2005 there were 153 such applications.
639:
451:
into effect, an application may be made to the Family Court of WA for a parentage order provided the application is brought within 12 months of the child's birth and all the requirements set out in the Act have been met.
690:
715:
643:
1479:
1501:
938:
417:
For married people who want to divorce and make arrangements for children, property and spousal maintenance, proceedings in the Family Court of
Western Australia are held under the
421:(Commonwealth), which is federal legislation. For unmarried people who seek arrangements for children, property and maintenance, the court's proceedings are held under the
1387:
1307:
1511:
964:
626:
1489:
1302:
842:
425:(Western Australia) which is state legislation. In 2002, the legislation was amended to incorporate de facto relationships and their property matters.
56:
1614:
1297:
1604:
1594:
476:
Justice Gail
Sutherland (appointed 7 January 2019) (but appointed Registrar of the Family Court of WA in 2009 and a Family Law Magistrate in 2010)
1568:
1333:
1224:
868:
743:
1437:
1380:
1255:
1085:
339:
220:
942:
1523:
1126:
382:, in her submission, also favoured a single integrated federal family court structured similarly to the Family Court of Western Australia.
1052:
152:
775:
1589:
1095:
810:
1553:
1484:
1373:
290:
1474:
1323:
1188:
401:
Although a state court, the Family Court of Western Australia is located within the Commonwealth court complex, which houses the
1563:
1506:
1496:
1354:
1281:
1219:
1157:
343:
1452:
1328:
1090:
409:. The court leases part of the building from the Commonwealth. Court security is provided as part of the lease arrangement.
1250:
1548:
1427:
1214:
335:
353:(Cth) permitted a state to establish its own family court. The Family Court of Western Australia was established by the
1543:
1204:
225:
1432:
1245:
1152:
1116:
971:
374:
justice system as close to the people of the state" as possible without the need to establish a Commonwealth court.
1240:
1111:
1469:
1396:
1349:
1183:
1045:
198:
338:
in being the only state with its own family court. Family law matters in all other states are dealt with by the
1599:
1518:
1121:
846:
1417:
1276:
370:
187:
916:
894:
301:(WA, 1975) and commenced operation in 1976. It is a state family court under section 41 of the Commonwealth
1422:
1178:
145:
1173:
606:
1080:
1061:
1038:
402:
130:
1271:
1142:
872:
750:
126:
122:
1442:
1147:
406:
1030:
1075:
203:
1609:
1404:
744:"Letter from Chief Judge of Family Court of WA to House of Representatives Standing Committee"
1412:
586:
782:
817:
8:
996:
303:
395:
331:
107:
442:
The Family Court of Western Australia has jurisdiction under the Western Australian
30:
1365:
212:
666:"Report on future governance of federal family courts in Australia November2008"
391:
362:
1583:
366:
312:
307:, and deals with the same issues as the Commonwealth Family Court, including
167:
154:
71:
58:
379:
1461:
346:
by being referred to as the 'Magistrates Court at 150 Terrace Rd Perth'.
464:
294:
138:
1535:
320:
256:
134:
1023:
776:"Standing Committee On Legal And Constitutional Affairs 20 Oct 2008"
716:"Chief Justice Bryant's submission to Attorney-General's Department"
1060:
316:
39:
642:. Attorney-General's Department. 20 November 2008. Archived from
308:
627:
Western Australia, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly
460:
390:
Under the terms of a 1976 agreement signed by Prime Minister
118:
997:"Family Court of WA - About The Court - Judicial Officers"
1308:
List of Australian Capital Territory courts and tribunals
691:"Law Council submission to Attorney-General's Department"
511:
As at 1 November 2023, the Magistrates of the Court are:
640:"A Better Framework for Federal Courts - Consultation"
970:. Supreme Court of Western Australia. Archived from
1395:
495:Justice Robin Cohen SC (appointed 14 October 2022)
939:"Judges of the Family Court of Western Australia"
44:Building of the Family Court of Western Australia
1581:
671:. Attorney-General's Department. 16 January 2009
498:Justice Steven Jones SC (appointed 5 April 2023)
486:Justice Richard O'Brien (appointed 7 March 2016)
1334:List of Northern Territory courts and tribunals
1225:List of Western Australian courts and tribunals
1062:Courts of the Australian states and territories
871:. Commonwealth Attorney-General. Archived from
811:"Joint Committee of Public Accounts And Audit"
555:Registrar Leonie Forrest (Principal Registrar)
492:Justice Michael Berry (appointed 10 June 2022)
1381:
1256:List of South Australian courts and tribunals
1046:
221:Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
1127:List of New South Wales courts and tribunals
721:. Attorney-General's Department. 6 June 2008
489:Judge Ciara Tyson (appointed 7 January 2019)
941:. Family Court of Australia. Archived from
297:. It was established by the passing of the
190:appointed by the recommendation of Cabinet.
1388:
1374:
1053:
1039:
738:
736:
38:
1096:List of Commonwealth courts and tribunals
816:. Parliament of Australia. Archived from
805:
803:
781:. Parliament of Australia. Archived from
749:. Parliament of Australia. Archived from
658:
506:
365:of the 1975 bill the Minister for Works,
357:(WA) (later repealed and replaced by the
1615:Courts and tribunals established in 1976
1605:Courthouses in Perth, Western Australia
1595:Western Australian courts and tribunals
1189:List of Queensland courts and tribunals
733:
696:. Law Council of Australia. 16 May 2008
1582:
1282:List of Tasmanian courts and tribunals
1158:List of Victorian courts and tribunals
800:
629:, 21 October 1975, 3605-6 (Des O'Neil)
369:, referred to a number of reasons the
344:Magistrates Court of Western Australia
1369:
1034:
845:. Family Court of WA. Archived from
454:
311:, marital property settlements, and
13:
459:The Court is presided over by six
226:Supreme Court of Western Australia
14:
1626:
1015:
287:Family Court of Western Australia
121:, and a few sittings are held in
24:Family Court of Western Australia
1590:1976 establishments in Australia
1451:
1086:Federal Circuit and Family Court
340:Federal Circuit and Family Court
100:
29:
1397:Government of Western Australia
989:
957:
931:
909:
887:
861:
835:
412:
199:Parliament of Western Australia
117:Full time sittings are held in
768:
708:
683:
632:
620:
599:
470:
239:Mandatory retirement by age 70
1:
607:"Family Law Act 1975 Sect 41"
592:
549:
371:Western Australian Government
1291:Australian Capital Territory
965:"Annual Review of WA Courts"
437:
326:
7:
580:
564:Registrar Samantha Padfield
527:Magistrate Catherine Osborn
428:
10:
1631:
1569:Other courts and tribunals
545:Magistrate Jocelyn Connick
539:Magistrate Megan Wadsworth
521:Magistrate Francine Walter
515:Magistrate Annette Andrews
403:Federal Court of Australia
385:
1534:
1460:
1449:
1403:
1342:
1316:
1290:
1264:
1233:
1197:
1166:
1135:
1104:
1091:Court of Disputed Returns
1068:
558:Registrar Andrzej Meysner
524:Magistrate Mark Calverley
480:
275:
267:
262:
257:www.familycourt.wa.gov.au
252:
244:
234:
211:
194:
183:
144:
113:
95:
87:
53:
49:
37:
28:
23:
576:Registrar Samantha Craig
573:Registrar Genevieve Smit
536:Magistrate Andrew Mackey
533:Magistrate Neil Anderson
467:, and eight registrars.
423:Family Court Act of 1997
1355:Court of Petty Sessions
869:"The Family Law System"
542:Magistrate Rebecca Hall
530:Magistrate Eric Martino
518:Magistrate Lisa Stewart
561:Registrar Simon French
507:Family Law Magistrates
394:and the State Premier
16:Australian state court
1600:Australian family law
587:Australian family law
570:Registrar Fiona Amaro
567:Registrar Jo Brinkley
363:second reading speech
359:Family Court Act 1997
355:Family Court Act 1975
204:Family Court Act 1997
1475:Legislative Assembly
999:. Family Court of WA
919:. Family Court of WA
897:. Family Court of WA
168:31.9589°S 115.8643°E
72:31.9589°S 115.8643°E
1497:Legislative Council
1485:Electoral districts
849:on 29 December 2008
419:Family Law Act 1975
351:Family Law Act 1975
304:Family Law Act 1975
245:Number of positions
164: /
68: /
1317:Northern Territory
1251:Magistrates' Court
1184:Magistrates' Court
1153:Magistrates' Court
823:on 25 October 2009
788:on 10 October 2009
448:Surrogacy Act 2008
444:Surrogacy Act 2008
349:Section 41 of the
334:is unique amongst
184:Composition method
173:-31.9589; 115.8643
77:-31.9589; 115.8643
1577:
1576:
1564:Magistrates Court
1507:Electoral regions
1363:
1362:
1303:Magistrates Court
1277:Magistrates Court
1220:Magistrates Court
1198:Western Australia
756:on 17 August 2008
646:on 8 January 2009
455:Judicial officers
396:Sir Charles Court
336:Australian states
332:Western Australia
283:
282:
235:Judge term length
108:Western Australia
1622:
1554:Children's Court
1455:
1390:
1383:
1376:
1367:
1366:
1055:
1048:
1041:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1024:Official website
1009:
1008:
1006:
1004:
993:
987:
986:
984:
982:
976:
969:
961:
955:
954:
952:
950:
935:
929:
928:
926:
924:
913:
907:
906:
904:
902:
891:
885:
884:
882:
880:
865:
859:
858:
856:
854:
839:
833:
832:
830:
828:
822:
815:
807:
798:
797:
795:
793:
787:
780:
772:
766:
765:
763:
761:
755:
748:
740:
731:
730:
728:
726:
720:
712:
706:
705:
703:
701:
695:
687:
681:
680:
678:
676:
670:
662:
656:
655:
653:
651:
636:
630:
624:
618:
617:
615:
613:
603:
299:Family Court Act
293:that deals with
240:
179:
178:
176:
175:
174:
169:
165:
162:
161:
160:
157:
106:
104:
103:
83:
82:
80:
79:
78:
73:
69:
66:
65:
64:
61:
42:
33:
21:
20:
1630:
1629:
1625:
1624:
1623:
1621:
1620:
1619:
1580:
1579:
1578:
1573:
1530:
1456:
1447:
1399:
1394:
1364:
1359:
1338:
1312:
1286:
1260:
1234:South Australia
1229:
1193:
1162:
1131:
1105:New South Wales
1100:
1064:
1059:
1022:
1021:
1018:
1013:
1012:
1002:
1000:
995:
994:
990:
980:
978:
974:
967:
963:
962:
958:
948:
946:
937:
936:
932:
922:
920:
915:
914:
910:
900:
898:
893:
892:
888:
878:
876:
875:on 7 March 2009
867:
866:
862:
852:
850:
841:
840:
836:
826:
824:
820:
813:
809:
808:
801:
791:
789:
785:
778:
774:
773:
769:
759:
757:
753:
746:
742:
741:
734:
724:
722:
718:
714:
713:
709:
699:
697:
693:
689:
688:
684:
674:
672:
668:
664:
663:
659:
649:
647:
638:
637:
633:
625:
621:
611:
609:
605:
604:
600:
595:
583:
552:
509:
483:
473:
457:
440:
431:
415:
388:
329:
271:Gail Sutherland
238:
230:
172:
170:
166:
163:
158:
155:
153:
151:
150:
101:
99:
76:
74:
70:
67:
62:
59:
57:
55:
54:
45:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1628:
1618:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1575:
1574:
1572:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1549:District Court
1546:
1540:
1538:
1532:
1531:
1529:
1528:
1527:
1526:
1516:
1515:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1494:
1493:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1472:
1466:
1464:
1458:
1457:
1450:
1448:
1446:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1428:Deputy Premier
1425:
1420:
1415:
1409:
1407:
1401:
1400:
1393:
1392:
1385:
1378:
1370:
1361:
1360:
1358:
1357:
1352:
1346:
1344:
1343:Norfolk Island
1340:
1339:
1337:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1294:
1292:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1268:
1266:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1246:District Court
1243:
1237:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1215:District Court
1212:
1207:
1201:
1199:
1195:
1194:
1192:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1179:District Court
1176:
1170:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1139:
1137:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1117:District Court
1114:
1108:
1106:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1065:
1058:
1057:
1050:
1043:
1035:
1029:
1028:
1017:
1016:External links
1014:
1011:
1010:
988:
977:on 16 May 2009
956:
945:on 20 May 2009
930:
908:
886:
860:
834:
799:
767:
732:
707:
682:
657:
631:
619:
597:
596:
594:
591:
590:
589:
582:
579:
578:
577:
574:
571:
568:
565:
562:
559:
556:
551:
548:
547:
546:
543:
540:
537:
534:
531:
528:
525:
522:
519:
516:
508:
505:
500:
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
482:
479:
478:
477:
472:
469:
456:
453:
439:
436:
430:
427:
414:
411:
392:Malcolm Fraser
387:
384:
361:(WA)). In the
328:
325:
281:
280:
277:
273:
272:
269:
265:
264:
260:
259:
254:
250:
249:
246:
242:
241:
236:
232:
231:
229:
228:
223:
217:
215:
209:
208:
196:
192:
191:
185:
181:
180:
148:
142:
141:
115:
111:
110:
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
51:
50:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1627:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1610:Family courts
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1587:
1585:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1545:
1544:Supreme Court
1542:
1541:
1539:
1537:
1533:
1525:
1522:
1521:
1520:
1517:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1499:
1498:
1495:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1467:
1465:
1463:
1459:
1454:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1410:
1408:
1406:
1402:
1398:
1391:
1386:
1384:
1379:
1377:
1372:
1371:
1368:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1350:Supreme Court
1348:
1347:
1345:
1341:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1324:Supreme Court
1322:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1298:Supreme Court
1296:
1295:
1293:
1289:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1272:Supreme Court
1270:
1269:
1267:
1263:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1241:Supreme Court
1239:
1238:
1236:
1232:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1205:Supreme Court
1203:
1202:
1200:
1196:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1174:Supreme Court
1172:
1171:
1169:
1165:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1143:Supreme Court
1141:
1140:
1138:
1134:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1112:Supreme Court
1110:
1109:
1107:
1103:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1081:Federal Court
1079:
1077:
1074:
1073:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1056:
1051:
1049:
1044:
1042:
1037:
1036:
1033:
1025:
1020:
1019:
998:
992:
973:
966:
960:
944:
940:
934:
918:
912:
896:
890:
874:
870:
864:
848:
844:
843:"Legislation"
838:
819:
812:
806:
804:
784:
777:
771:
752:
745:
739:
737:
717:
711:
692:
686:
667:
661:
645:
641:
635:
628:
623:
608:
602:
598:
588:
585:
584:
575:
572:
569:
566:
563:
560:
557:
554:
553:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
523:
520:
517:
514:
513:
512:
504:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
484:
475:
474:
468:
466:
462:
452:
449:
445:
435:
426:
424:
420:
410:
408:
404:
399:
397:
393:
383:
381:
375:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
324:
322:
318:
314:
313:child custody
310:
306:
305:
300:
296:
292:
288:
278:
274:
270:
266:
261:
258:
255:
251:
247:
243:
237:
233:
227:
224:
222:
219:
218:
216:
214:
210:
206:
205:
200:
197:
195:Authorized by
193:
189:
186:
182:
177:
149:
147:
143:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
109:
98:
94:
90:
86:
81:
52:
48:
41:
36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1559:Family Court
1558:
1210:Family Court
1209:
1148:County Court
1069:Commonwealth
1001:. Retrieved
991:
979:. Retrieved
972:the original
959:
947:. Retrieved
943:the original
933:
921:. Retrieved
911:
899:. Retrieved
889:
877:. Retrieved
873:the original
863:
851:. Retrieved
847:the original
837:
825:. Retrieved
818:the original
790:. Retrieved
783:the original
770:
758:. Retrieved
751:the original
723:. Retrieved
710:
698:. Retrieved
685:
673:. Retrieved
660:
648:. Retrieved
644:the original
634:
622:
610:. Retrieved
601:
510:
501:
458:
447:
443:
441:
432:
422:
418:
416:
413:Jurisdiction
400:
389:
380:Diana Bryant
376:
358:
354:
350:
348:
330:
302:
298:
286:
284:
202:
96:Jurisdiction
18:
1462:Legislative
1329:Local Court
1122:Local Court
917:"Surrogacy"
895:"Adoptions"
471:Chief Judge
465:magistrates
315:, and also
291:state court
263:Chief Judge
171: /
159:115°51′51″E
146:Coordinates
88:Established
75: /
63:115°51′51″E
1584:Categories
1519:Opposition
1470:Parliament
1167:Queensland
1076:High Court
1003:18 January
725:18 January
700:18 January
675:18 January
650:18 January
612:16 January
593:References
550:Registrars
367:Des O'Neil
295:family law
279:7 Jan 2019
213:Appeals to
156:31°57′32″S
139:Kalgoorlie
60:31°57′32″S
1512:President
1405:Executive
463:, eleven
438:Surrogacy
327:Structure
321:surrogacy
268:Currently
201:via the:
135:Geraldton
1536:Judicial
1438:Entities
1418:Governor
1413:Monarchy
1265:Tasmania
1136:Victoria
923:10 April
901:10 April
879:10 April
581:See also
429:Adoption
317:adoption
188:Governor
114:Location
1490:Speaker
1433:Cabinet
1423:Premier
981:7 April
949:5 April
853:5 April
827:4 April
792:4 April
760:4 April
386:Funding
309:divorce
253:Website
131:Bunbury
1524:Leader
1443:Police
481:Judges
461:judges
127:Broome
123:Albany
105:
975:(PDF)
968:(PDF)
821:(PDF)
814:(PDF)
786:(PDF)
779:(PDF)
754:(PDF)
747:(PDF)
719:(PDF)
694:(PDF)
669:(PDF)
407:Perth
289:is a
276:Since
119:Perth
1502:MLCs
1480:MLAs
1005:2019
983:2009
951:2009
925:2009
903:2009
881:2009
855:2009
829:2009
794:2009
762:2009
727:2009
702:2009
677:2009
652:2009
614:2017
319:and
285:The
207:(WA)
137:and
91:1975
405:in
1586::
802:^
735:^
248:25
133:,
129:,
125:,
1389:e
1382:t
1375:v
1054:e
1047:t
1040:v
1007:.
985:.
953:.
927:.
905:.
883:.
857:.
831:.
796:.
764:.
729:.
704:.
679:.
654:.
616:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
