The Morrison Government is boosting investment in important legal and workplace services, keeping Australian families safe and supporting businesses as part of our plan to secure Australia's recovery.
Funding announced in the 2021-22 Budget will boost family law services, and provide more legal and social support for people experiencing domestic and family violence.
New Budget initiatives will also help rebuild our economy by reducing the regulatory burden on Australian businesses - including small businesses - giving them incentive to grow and hire more staff. These measures will cut red tape for businesses, helping them better comply with modern awards, reduce their costs and improve compliance.
Further funding will also be provided to key agencies and projects to continue important oversight and ensure integrity in various portfolio areas.
Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Michaelia Cash said the Government was committed to supporting Australians navigating the legal and the industrial relations systems.
"I am proud to announce a package of considered and important measures, which will support people to resolve issues as efficiently as possible," the Attorney-General said.
Key measures for the Attorney-General's and industrial relations portfolio include:
Legal and family support services
As part of the Women's Safety Package, the Morrison Government will provide:
- $129.0million in additional legal assistance funding, to respond to continued demand as a result of COVID-19, particularly from vulnerable women
- a $101.4 million investment in Children's Contact Services (CCSs) to reduce safety risks to family law system users
- $85.0 million to maintain, enhance and expand the Family Advocacy Support Services
- $4.7 million to fund a multi-jurisdictional initiative to strengthen criminal justice responses to sexual assault, sexual harassment and coercive control.
As part of the Women's Economic Security Package the Australian Government will provide:
- $10.7 million in additional funding to extend two well-received family law property pilots for a further 18 months to 30 June 2023. The complementary Small Claims Property Pilot and the Legal Aid Commission Trial assist separating couples with small property pools achieve affordable, timely property settlements.
Other initiatives will include:
- $60.8 million to support the implementation of a new approach to family law case management in the federal family courts. This funding will overhaul case management in family courts, allowing registrars to triage and manage cases more quickly than judges. This will mean more families will have their matters heard and resolved sooner
- $60 million to provide dedicated legal assistance services for people with mental health issues
- $16.8 million to deliver legal assistance services to children experiencing, and survivors of, sexual abuse. This amount comprises of $3.7 million for an online chat service and $13.1 million to expand a specialised informed legal service
- $29 million in funding towards finalising the National Information Sharing Framework on Family Safety
- $24.1 million for the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) to manage increased prosecutions related to child sexual abuse
- $6.3 million in additional funding for the Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties scheme in 2021-22
