Cronulla lawyer Antonella Sanderson had the chance to directly question the Attorney-General on issues facing Family Law Courts during this week’s episode of Q&A.
The ABC current affairs show featured a panel of guests including Attorney-General George Brandis, Tanya Plibersek and barrister Julian Burnside.
The Director and Principal Solicitor of Family Law Matters directed her question to Senator Brandis arguing the court was in a state of crisis.
“Mums and dads can wait about three years in order to get a decision about how to divide their assets,’’ she said.
“There aren't enough judges to get through the ever increasing workload.’’
Senator Brandis argued that it was an issue with the size of the courts and there was only a finite number of judges.
Ms Sanderson said she was glad to have been given the opportunity to share her question to a national audience.
“In response to my question about the resourcing crisis currently experienced in the Family Law Courts, Senator Brandis gave some explanation about the differences between the two courts dealing with family law cases,’’ she said.
“Although he focused on the number of judicial officers appointed, currently 103, no mention was made of how that number is determined, nor whether there was any correlation between the number of judges appointed and the actual needs of the court.’’
She praised the response from Mr Burnside who said the system clearly wasn’t working.
“As so eloquently put by Julian Burnside, what is needed in this inadequately resourced and failing system is more judicial officers – in both courts – to properly manage their caseloads,’’ she said.
