Family Law Amendment Act 1987 (Cth)
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. Principal Act
PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE FAMILY LAW ACT 1975
4. Title
5. Interpretation
6. Repeal of sections 5 and 5a
7. Transitional
8. Repeal of section 10
9. Conciliation
10. Notice seeking counselling
11. Advice as to counselling
12. Conciliation counselling
13. Provision of certain documents
14. Original jurisdiction of Family Court
15. Delegation of powers to Registrars
16. Jurisdiction in matrimonial causes
17. Jurisdiction of Family Court
18. Principles to be applied by courts
19. Institution of proceedings
20. Transfer of proceedings from court of summary jurisdiction in certain cases
21. When decree becomes absolute
22. Insertion of new section:
55a. Decree absolute where children
23. Heading to Part VII
24. Repeal of sections 60, 60a and 61 and insertion of Divisions, heading and sections:
TABLE OF
PROVISIONS—
Section
60. Interpretation
60a. Certain children are children of marriage etc.
60b. Children born as a result of artificial conception procedures
60c. Application of Part in relation to void marriages
60d. Welfare of child to be paramount consideration
60e. Extension and application of Part
60f. Additional application of Part
60g. Additional jurisdiction of courts
60h. Child welfare laws not affected
61. Notice seeking court counselling
61a. Court counselling facilities to be made available
61b. Conciliation counselling
61c. Provision of certain documents
25. Repeal of section and insertion of Division, heading and sections:
63. Jurisdiction of courts under Part
63a. Certain proceedings to be instituted only under Part
63b. Child to be present in Australia etc.
63c. Persons who may institute proceedings under Act
63d. Transfer of proceedings from courts of summary jurisdiction in certain cases
63e. Custody and guardianship
63f. Rights of custody and guardianship of children
26. Powers of court
27. Separate representation of child
28. Insertion of Divisions and heading:
66a. Objects of Division
66b. Duty of parents to maintain their children
66c. Approach to be adopted in child maintenance proceedings
66d. Matters to be taken into account in considering financial support necessary for maintenance of child
66e. Matters to be taken into account in determining contribution that should be made by party etc.
66f. Powers of court in child maintenance proceedings
66g. Step-parents to assist in maintenance of step-children in certain circumstances etc.
66h. Children who have attained 18 years of age
66j. General powers of court
66k. Urgent maintenance orders
66l. Specification in orders of payments etc. for child maintenance purposes
66m. Cessation of orders
66n. Modification of maintenance orders
TABLE OF
PROVISIONS—
Section
66p. Presumptions of parentage arising from marriage
66q. Presumption of paternity arising from cohabitation
66r. Presumption of parentage arising from registration of birth
66s. Presumptions of parentage arising from findings of courts
66t. Presumption of paternity arising from acknowledgements
66u. Rebuttal of presumptions etc.
66v. Evidence of parentage
66w. Medical procedures to determine parentage
66x. Father liable to contribute towards maintenance and expenses of mother
66y. Matters to be taken into account in proceedings under Division
66z. Powers of court in proceedings under Division
66za. Urgent orders
66zb. Time limit for institution of proceedings
66zc. Registration of child agreements
66zd. Child welfare provisions of registered child agreements
66ze. Setting aside of registered child agreements
29. Registration of State and Territory custody orders
30. Overseas custody orders
31. Insertion of heading:
32. Interfering with child subject to custody order
33. Certain children not to be taken out of Australia
34. Obligation of owners of vessels etc.
35. Insertion of Divisions:
70c. Injunctions
70d. Powers of arrest
70e. Institution of maintenance proceedings by authorised authority or person
36. Heading to Part VIII
37. Repeal of section 73
38. Power of court in spousal maintenance proceedings
39. Matters to be taken into consideration in relation to spousal maintenance
40. Repeal of section 76
41. Urgent spousal maintenance cases
42. Insertion of new section:
77a. Specification in orders of payments etc. for spouse maintenance purposes
43. General powers of court
44. Cessation of spousal maintenance orders
45. Modification of spousal maintenance orders
46. Registered maintenance agreements
TABLE OF PROVISIONS—
Section
47. Operation of maintenance agreements entered into in substitution for rights under Act
48. Insertion of new section:
87a. Specification in maintenance agreements of payments etc. for maintenance purposes
49. Institution of spousal maintenance proceedings by authority or person
50. Certain instruments not liable to duty
51. Intervention by other persons
52. Proceedings in absence of parties
53. Repeal of sections 99 and 99a
54. Repeal of section 102 and substitution of section:
102. Proof of birth, parentage, death or marriage
55. Persons not to be imprisoned for failure to comply with certain orders
56. Inter-State enforcement of child bearing expenses orders
57. Overseas enforcement of maintenance orders etc.
58. Injunctions
59. Powers of arrest
60. Operation of State and Territory laws
61. Offers of settlement
62. Regulations
63. Formal amendments
PART III—TRANSITIONAL AND APPLICATION PROVISIONS
64. Application of relief from time limits applying in relation to institution of certain proceedings
65. Transitional provision in relation to section 46 of Family Law Act
66. Application of certain provisions in relation to children born before commencement of Act
67. Application of specification requirements in orders and agreements
68. Savings provisions in relation to injunctions
SCHEDULE
FORMAL AMENDMENTS
[
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:
(a) by omitting “subsection” from the definition of “financial or custodial proceedings” in subsection (1) and substituting “subsection or under Part VII”;
(b) by omitting paragraphs (cb) to (ch) (inclusive) of the definition of “matrimonial cause” in subsection (1);
(c) by omitting from paragraph (eb) of the definition of “matrimonial cause” in subsection (1) “(cb), (cc), (cd) or (ce)”;
(d) by omitting from subsection (1) the definitions of “adopted” and “guardian”;
(e) by inserting in subsection (1) the following definitions in their respective appropriate alphabetical positions (determined on a letter-by-letter basis):
“ ‘child of a marriage’ includes a child who is, under subsection 60a (1) or (2), a child of a marriage, but does not include a child who has, under subsection 60a (3), ceased to be a child of a marriage;
‘income tested pension, allowance or benefit’ means a pension, allowance or benefit prescribed, or included in a class of pensions, allowances or benefits prescribed, for the purposes of this definition;
‘police officer’ means:
(a) a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police; or
(b) a member, however described, of the police force of a State or Territory;
‘this Act’ includes the regulations and Rules of Court;”; and
(f) by omitting subsections (3) and (4).
(a) by omitting from subsection (4) “the children of the marriage” and substituting “their children”; and
(b) by omitting from subsection (5) “and to any child of the marriage” and substituting “or to any of their children”.
(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) “children of marriages” and substituting “their children”; and
(b) by adding at the end the following subsection:
“(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to:
(a) a court exercising jurisdiction under Part VII; or
(b) proceedings under Part VII.”.
(a) by inserting “(other than under Part VII)” after “Act”; and
(b) by omitting from paragraph (a) “the children of the marriage” and substituting “children whose welfare is likely to be affected by the proceedings”.
(a) by omitting paragraphs (4) (a), (b) and (c) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(a) in the case of proceedings between the parties to a marriage or proceedings of a kind referred to in paragraph (b) of that definition in relation to a marriage—either party to the marriage is an Australian citizen, is ordinarily resident in Australia, or is present in Australia, at the relevant date; and
(b) in any other case—any party to the proceedings is an Australian citizen, is ordinarily resident in Australia, or is present in Australia, at the relevant date.”; and
(b) by omitting paragraphs (5) (c) and (6) (c).
“(8) This section does not apply in relation to proceedings under Part VII.”.
(a) by omitting “or any other Act”; and
(b) by omitting from paragraph (d) “the children of the marriage” and substituting “their children”.
“(4) The court shall not grant leave under subsection (3) or (3a) unless it is satisfied:
(a) that hardship would be caused to a party to the relevant marriage or a child if leave were not granted; or
(b) in the case of proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a party to a marriage—that, at the end of the period within which the proceedings could have been instituted without the leave of the court, the circumstances of the applicant were such that the applicant would have been unable to support himself or herself without an income tested pension, allowance or benefit.”.
(a) by omitting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:
“(1) Where proceedings are instituted in a court of summary jurisdiction in relation to property of a value exceeding the amount in relation to which the court has jurisdiction in an action for the recovery of a debt and the respondent, in answer to the application by which the proceedings are instituted, seeks an order different from that sought in the application:
(a) the court shall, before proceeding to hear and determine the proceedings, inform the parties that, unless each of them consents to the court hearing and determining the proceedings, the court is required to transfer the proceedings to the Family Court or to the Supreme Court of a State or Territory; and
(b) unless the parties consent to the court hearing and determining the proceedings—the court shall transfer the proceedings to the Family Court or to the Supreme Court of a State or Territory.”; and
(b) by omitting from subsection (3) “, including an order under section 62,”.
“55a.
(1) A decree
(a) that there are no children of the marriage who have not attained 18 years of age; or
(b) that the only children of the marriage who have not attained 18 years of age are the children specified in the order and that:
(i) proper arrangements in all the circumstances have been made for the welfare of those children; or
(ii) there are circumstances by reason of which the decree
nisi should become absolute even though the court is not satisfied that such arrangements have been made.
“(2) Where, in proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage, the court doubts whether the arrangements made for the welfare of a child of the marriage are proper in all the circumstances, the court may adjourn the proceedings until a report has been obtained from a court counsellor or welfare officer regarding those arrangements.
“(3) For the purposes of this section, a child (including an ex-nuptial child of either the husband or the wife, a child adopted by either of them or a child who is not a child of either of them) is a child of the marriage if the child was treated by the husband and wife as a child of their family at the relevant time.
“(4) For the purposes of subsection
(3), the relevant time is the time immediately before the time when the husband
and wife separated or, if they have separated on more than one occasion, the
time immediately before the time when they last separated before the
institution of the proceedings in which the decree
“60. In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears:
‘adopted’, in relation to a child, means adopted under the law of any place (whether in or out of Australia) relating to the adoption of children;
‘artificial conception procedure’ includes:
(a) artificial insemination; and
(b) the implantation of an embryo in the body of a woman;
‘birth’ includes stillbirth;
‘child’ includes an adopted child and a stillborn child;
‘child agreement’ means an agreement:
(a) that is in writing;
(b) that is made (whether before or after the commencement of this section and whether within or outside Australia) between the parents of a child (whether or not there are other parties to the agreement); and
(c) that makes provision in relation to child welfare matters in relation to the child (whether or not it also makes provision in relation to other matters);
and includes such an agreement that varies an earlier child agreement;
‘childbirth maintenance period’, in relation to the birth of a child, means the period:
(a) commencing:
(i) in a case where the mother:
(a) works in paid employment;
(b) is advised by a medical practitioner to stop working for medical reasons related to her pregnancy; and
(c) stops working after being so advised and more than 2 months before the child is due to be born;
on the day on which she stops working;
(ii) in any other case—2 months before the child is due to be born; and
(b) ending 3 months after the child’s birth;
‘child welfare law’ means a law of a State or Territory prescribed, or included in a class of laws of a State or Territory prescribed, for the purposes of this definition;
‘child welfare matters’ means matters in relation to the custody, guardianship or welfare of, or access to, a child, but does not include matters in relation to the maintenance of a child;
‘education’ includes apprenticeship or vocational training;
‘guardian’, in relation to a child, includes a person who has been granted (whether alone or jointly with another person or other persons) guardianship of the child under:
(a) this Act or another law of the Commonwealth; or
(b) the law of a State or Territory;
‘medical expenses’ includes medical, surgical, dental, diagnostic, hospital, nursing, pharmaceutical and physiotherapy expenses;
‘medical practitioner’ means a person registered or licensed as a medical practitioner under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the registration or licensing of medical practitioners;
‘overseas custody order’ means an order made by a court of a prescribed overseas jurisdiction that is:
(a) an order the effect of which is to grant to a person:
(i) the right to custody of a child who has not attained 18 years of age; or
(ii) a right of access to a child who has not attained 18 years of age;
whether or not the order also has the effect of granting to the person, or to another person, other rights and responsibilities; or
(b) an order varying or discharging an order of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), including an order of that kind made under this Act;
‘parent’, in relation to a child who has been adopted, means an adoptive parent of the child;
‘parentage testing procedure’ means a medical procedure prescribed, or included in a class of medical procedures prescribed, for the purposes of this definition;
‘step-parent’, in relation to a child, means a person who:
(a) is not a parent of the child;
(b) is or has been married to a parent of the child; and
(c) treats, or at any time during the marriage treated, the child as a member of the family formed with the parent.
“60a. (1) A reference in this Act to a child of a marriage includes, subject to subsection (3), a reference to each of the following children:
(a) a child adopted since the marriage by the husband and wife or by either of them with the consent of the other;
(b) a child of the husband and wife born before the marriage;
(c) a child who is, under subsection 60b (1), the child of the husband and wife.
“(2) A reference in this Act to a child of a marriage includes a reference to a child of:
(a) a marriage that has been dissolved or annulled, in Australia or elsewhere; or
(b) a marriage that has been terminated by the death of one party to the marriage.
“(3) A child of a marriage who is adopted by a person who is not a party to the marriage ceases to be a child of the marriage for the purposes of this Act.
“60b. (1) Where:
(a) a child is born to a woman as a result of the carrying out of an artificial conception procedure while the woman was married to a man; and
(b) either of the following paragraphs apply:
(i) the procedure was carried out with their consent;
(ii) under a prescribed law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, the child is a child of the woman and of the man;
then, whether or not the child is biologically a child of the woman and of the man, the child is their child.
“(2) Where:
(a) a child is born to a woman as a result of the carrying out of an artificial conception procedure; and
(b) under a prescribed law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, the child is a child of the woman;
then, whether or not the child is biologically a child of the woman, the child is her child.
“(3) Where:
(a) a child is born to a woman as a result of the carrying out of an artificial conception procedure; and
(b) under a prescribed law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, the child is a child of a man;
then, whether or not the child is biologically a child of the man, the child is his child.
“(4) Where a person lives with
another person as the husband or wife of the first-mentioned person on a
(a) they were married to each other; and
(b) neither person were married to any other person.
“(5) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person shall be presumed to have consented to an artificial conception procedure being carried out unless it is proved, on the balance of probabilities, that the person did not consent.
“60c. This Part applies in relation to a purported marriage that is void as if:
(a) the purported marriage were a marriage; and
(b) the parties to the purported marriage were husband and wife.
“60d. In proceedings under this Part in relation to a child, the court shall regard the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration.
“60e. (1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), this Part extends to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
“(2) If:
(a) the Parliament of Queensland or Western Australia refers to the Parliament of the Commonwealth the following matters or matters that include, or are included in, the following matters:
(i) the maintenance of children and the payment of expenses in relation to children or child bearing;
(ii) the custody and guardianship of, and access to, children; or
(b) Queensland or Western Australia adopts this Part;
then, subject to subsections (4) and (5), this Part also extends to Queensland or Western Australia, as the case may be.
“(3) This Part applies in and in relation to the Territories.
“(4) This Part extends to a State by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) only for so long as there is in force:
(a) an Act of the Parliament of the State by which there is referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth:
(i) the matters referred to in subparagraphs (2) (a) (i) and (ii); or
(ii) matters that include, or are included in, those matters; or
(b) a law of the State adopting this Part.
“(5) This Part extends to a State at any time by virtue of subsection (1) or paragraph (2) (a) only in so far as it makes provision with respect to:
(a) the matters that are at that time referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Parliament of the State; or
(b) matters incidental to the execution of any power vested by the Constitution in the Parliament of the Commonwealth in relation to those matters.
“60f. (1) Without prejudice to its effect apart from this section, this Part also has effect as provided by this section.
“(2) By virtue of this subsection, Divisions 3 to 6 (inclusive) (other than section 66g) and Divisions 10 and 13 have the effect that they would have if:
(a) each reference to a child were, by express provision, confined to a child of a marriage; and
(b) each reference to the parents of the child were, by express provision, confined to the parties to the marriage;
and have that effect only in so far as they make provision with respect to the rights and duties of the parties to the marriage in relation to the child, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, provision with respect to:
(c) the rights and duties of those parties in relation to:
(i) the maintenance of the child and the payment of expenses in relation to the child; or
(ii) the custody, guardianship and welfare of, and access to, the child; and
(d) other rights and duties in relation to the child:
(i) arising out of the marital relationship;
(ii) in relation to concurrent, pending or completed proceedings between those parties for principal relief; or
(iii) in relation to the dissolution or annulment of that marriage or the legal separation of the parties to that marriage, being
a dissolution, annulment or legal separation effected in accordance with the law of an overseas jurisdiction, where the dissolution, annulment or legal separation is recognised as valid in Australia under section 104.
“(3) By virtue of this subsection, Divisions 1, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 14, and this Division, have effect according to their tenor.
“60g. In addition to the jurisdiction that, apart from this section, is invested in or conferred on a court under this Part, the court is invested with jurisdiction or jurisdiction is conferred on the court, as the case requires, in matters arising between residents of different States, being matters with respect to:
(a) the maintenance of children and the payment of expenses in relation to children or child bearing; or
(b) the custody, guardianship and welfare of, and access to, children.
“60h. (1) A court having jurisdiction under this Act shall not make an order under this Act in relation to a child who is in the custody of, or under the guardianship, care and control or supervision of, a person under a child welfare law unless the order is expressed to come into effect when the child ceases to be in such custody or under such guardianship, care and control or supervision, as the case may be.
“(2) Nothing in this Act, and no decree made under this Act, affects:
(a) the jurisdiction of a court, or the power of an authority, under a child welfare law to make an order, or to take any other action, by which a child is placed in the custody of, or under the guardianship, care and control or supervision of, a person;
(b) any such order made or action taken;
(c) the jurisdiction of a court under a child welfare law to make an order in relation to the maintenance of the child;
(d) an order of the kind referred to in paragraph (c); and
(e) the operation in relation to the child of a child welfare law.
“(3) Where it appears to a court having jurisdiction under this Act that another court or an authority proposes to make an order, or to take any other action, of the kind referred to in paragraph (2) (a) in relation to a child, the first-mentioned court may adjourn any proceedings before it that relate to the child.
“61. (1) A party to proceedings under this Part, or a person representing a child under an order made under section 65, may file in the Family Court
or a Family Court of a State a notice stating that he or she wishes to have the assistance of the counselling facilities of that Court.
“(2) On the filing of the notice, the Principal Director of Court Counselling of the Family Court or an appropriate officer of the Family Court of the State, as the case may be, shall arrange for parties to the proceedings (with or without the child) to be interviewed by a court counsellor or welfare officer:
(a) to discuss the welfare of the child; and
(b) if there are differences between the parties in relation to matters affecting the welfare of the child, to endeavour to resolve those differences.
“61a. (1) A parent of a child, a child or a party to proceedings under this Part may seek the assistance of the counselling facilities of the Family Court or a Family Court of a State.
“(2) The Principal Director of Court Counselling of the Family Court or an appropriate officer of the Family Court of the State, as the case may be, shall, as far as practicable, make those facilities available.
“61b. The Family Court and any other court exercising jurisdiction under this Part, and any legal practitioner acting in proceedings under this Part or consulted by a person who is considering instituting proceedings under this Part, shall have regard to the need to direct the attention of parties to such proceedings, and persons considering such proceedings:
(a) to the facilities provided by courts exercising jurisdiction under this Part for counselling to assist children and parties to adjust, to the consequences of orders under this Part; and
(b) to the procedures available for the resolution by conciliation of matters arising in the proceedings.
“61c. The Rules of Court shall provide for the furnishing to a person proposing to institute proceedings under this Part in relation to a child, and in appropriate cases to any other person who may be interested in the welfare of the child, of documents setting out:
(a) the legal and possible social effects of the proposed proceedings; and
(b) the counselling and welfare facilities available within the Family Court and elsewhere.”.
“63. (1) Jurisdiction is conferred on the Family Court and, subject to subsection (7), the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and each Family Court of a State is invested with federal jurisdiction in relation to matters arising under this Part (including proceedings under sections 70c and 70d).
“(2) Subject to subsections (5) and (7), each court of summary jurisdiction of each State is invested with federal jurisdiction, and jurisdiction is conferred on each court of summary jurisdiction of each Territory, in relation to matters arising under this Part (including proceedings under sections 70c and 70d).
“(3) The Governor-General may, by Proclamation, fix a day as the day on and after which proceedings in relation to matters arising under this Part (including proceedings under sections 70c and 70d) may not be instituted in, or transferred to, a court of summary jurisdiction in a specified State or Territory.
“(4) A Proclamation under subsection (3) may be expressed to apply only in relation to:
(a) proceedings of specified classes; or
(b) the institution of proceedings in, or the transfer of proceedings to, a court of summary jurisdiction in a specified part of a State or Territory.
“(5) A court of summary jurisdiction shall not hear or determine proceedings under this Part otherwise than in accordance with any Proclamation in force under subsection (3).
“(6) The Governor-General may, by Proclamation, declare that a Proclamation made under subsection (3) is revoked on and from a specified day and, on and from the specified day, this Part (including sub-section (3)) has effect as if the revoked Proclamation had not been made, but without prejudice to the effect of the revoked Proclamation in relation to the jurisdiction of courts before the specified day.
“(7) Jurisdiction in relation to a matter arising under this Part in relation to which a proceeding is instituted under this Part is not conferred on a court of a Territory unless at least one of the parties to the proceedings is, on the day of the institution of the proceedings or the day of the transfer of the proceedings to that court, ordinarily resident in the Territory.
“(8) The jurisdiction conferred on or invested in a court by this section includes jurisdiction in relation to matters arising under any law of the Commonwealth in relation to which proceedings are transferred to that court under this Act.
“(9) The jurisdiction conferred on or invested in a court by this section is in addition to any jurisdiction conferred on or invested in the court apart from this section.
“63a. Proceedings that may be instituted under this Part shall not, after the commencement of this section, be instituted otherwise than under this Part.
“63b. (1) Proceedings may be instituted under this Act in relation to a child only if:
(a) the child is present in Australia on the relevant day;
(b) the child is an Australian citizen, or is ordinarily resident in Australia, on the relevant day;
(c) a parent of the child is an Australian citizen, is ordinarily resident in Australia, or is present in Australia, on the relevant day;
(d) a party to the proceedings is an Australian citizen, is ordinarily resident in Australia, or is present in Australia, on the relevant day; or
(e) it would be in accordance with a treaty or arrangement in force between Australia and an overseas jurisdiction, or the common law rules of private international law, for the court to exercise jurisdiction in the proceedings.
“(2) In subsection (1), ‘relevant day’, in relation to proceedings, means:
(a) if the application instituting the proceedings is filed in a court, the day on which the application is filed; or
(b) in any other case—the day on which the application instituting the proceedings is made.
“63c. (1) Proceedings under this Act in relation to a child may be instituted by:
(a) either or both of the parents;
(b) the child; or
(c) any other person who has an interest in the welfare of the child.
“(2) Proceedings under Division 9 in relation to the mother of a child may be instituted by the mother.
“63d. (1) Where:
(a) proceedings in relation to the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child are instituted in a court of summary jurisdiction; and
(b) the respondent, in answer to the application by which the proceedings were instituted, seeks an order different from that sought in the application;
the court shall, before proceeding to hear and determine the proceedings, inform the parties that, unless each of them consents to the court hearing and determining the proceedings, the court is required to transfer the proceedings to the Family Court, a Family Court of a State or the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
“(2) If the parties do not consent to the court hearing and determining the proceedings, the court shall transfer the proceedings accordingly.
“(3) Before transferring the proceedings, the court may make such orders (including an order under subsection 62 (1)) as it considers necessary pending the disposal of the proceedings by the court to which they are transferred.
“(4) If the parties consent to the court hearing and determining the proceedings:
(a) a party is not entitled, without the leave of the court, subsequently to object to the proceedings being heard and determined by the court; and
(b) the court may nevertheless, of its own motion, transfer the proceedings to the Family Court, a Family Court of a State or the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
“(5) If the court subsequently gives leave to a party to object to the proceedings being heard and determined by the court, the court shall transfer the proceedings to the Family Court, a Family Court of a State or the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
“(6) Where proceedings are transferred to a court under this section, the court shall proceed as if the proceedings had been instituted in the court.
“(7) Failure by a court of summary jurisdiction to comply with this section in relation to proceedings does not invalidate any order made by the court in the proceedings.
“(8) Subsection (7) does not affect the duty of a court of summary jurisdiction to comply with this section.
“63e. (1) A person who is the guardian of a child under this Act has responsibility for the long-term welfare of the child and has, in relation to the child, all the powers, rights and duties that are, apart from this Act, vested by law or custom in the guardian of a child, other than:
(a) the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
(b) the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child.
“(2) A person who has or is granted custody of a child under this Act has:
(a) the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
(b) the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child.
“(3) The operation of subsection (1) or (2) in relation to a child may be varied by an order made in relation to the child by a court exercising jurisdiction under this Part.
“(4) An order made under this Act or the repealed Act:
(a) that was in force immediately before the commencement of section 26 of the
Family Law Amendment Act 1983 ; and(b) that granted to a person the care and control of a child;
has effect for the purposes of this Act as if it were an order granting to the person the custody of the child.
“(5) An order made under this Act or the repealed Act:
(a) that was in force immediately before the commencement of section 26 of the
Family Law Amendment Act 1983 ; and(b) that granted to a person the custody of a child;
has effect for the purposes of this Act:
(c) in a case where, by that order or another order in force immediately before the commencement of that section, the care and control of the child had been granted to another person—as if the first-mentioned order were an order granting to the first-mentioned person the guardianship of the child; or
(d) in any other case—as if the first-mentioned order were an order granting to the first-mentioned person the guardianship and the custody of the child.
“63f. (1) Subject to any order of a court for the time being in force (whether or not made under this Act and whether made before or after the commencement of this section), each of the parents of a child who has not attained 18 years of age is a guardian of the child, and the parents have the joint custody of the child.
“(2) An order shall not be made under this Part in relation to the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child who has attained 18 years of age or is or has been married.
“(3) An order made under this Part in relation to the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child ceases to be in force when the child attains 18 years of age or marries.
“(4) An order made under this Part in relation to the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child ceases to be in force if the child is adopted by a person who is not a parent of the child.
“(5) On the death of a parent in whose favour an order has been made under this Part for the custody of a child:
(a) the other parent is entitled to the custody of the child only if the court so orders;
(b) the other parent or another person may make an application to the court for an order placing the child in the custody of the applicant; and
(c) in an application under paragraph (b) by a person who does not, at the time of the application, have the care and control of the child, any person who, at that time, has the care and control of the child is entitled to be a party to the proceedings.”.
(a) by omitting from subsections (1), (1b) and (2) “of a marriage”;
(b) by omitting paragraph (1) (a);
(c) by omitting from paragraph (1) (ba) “paragraphs (a) and (b)” and substituting “section 60d and paragraph (b) of this subsection”;
(d) by omitting from paragraph (1) (c) “paragraphs (a),” and substituting “section 60d and paragraphs”;
(e) by omitting from subsection (2) “party to the marriage” (wherever occurring) and substituting “parent”; and
(f) by omitting from subsection (9) and (10) and paragraphs (11a) (b) and (11b) (b) “Act” and substituting “Part”.
“66a. (1) The principal object of this Division is to ensure that children receive a proper level of financial support from their parents.
“(2) Particular objects of this Division include ensuring:
(a) that children have their proper needs met from reasonable and adequate shares in the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of both of their parents; and
(b) that parents share equitably in the support of their children.
“66b. (1) The parents of a child have, subject to this Division, the primary duty to maintain the child.
“(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the duty of a parent to maintain a child:
(a) is not of lower priority than the duty of the parent to maintain any other child or another person;
(b) has priority over all commitments of the parent other than commitments necessary to enable the parent to support:
(i) himself or herself; and
(ii) any other child or another person that the parent has a duty to maintain; and
(c) is not affected by:
(i) the duty of any other person to maintain the child; or
(ii) any entitlement of the child or another person to an income tested pension, allowance or benefit.
“66c. In proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a child, the court shall:
(a) consider the financial support necessary for the maintenance of the child; and
(b) determine the financial contribution, or respective financial contributions, towards the financial support necessary for the maintenance of the child, that should be made by a party, or by parties, to the proceedings.
“66d. (1) In considering the financial support necessary for the maintenance of a child, the court shall take into account, in addition to the matters referred to in sections 60d and 66a, the following matters only:
(a) the proper needs of the child;
(b) the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of the child.
“(2) In taking into account the proper needs of the child, the court shall have regard to:
(a) the age of the child;
(b) the manner in which the child is being, and in which the parents expected the child to be, educated or trained; and
(c) any special needs of the child;
and may also have regard, to the extent to which it considers it appropriate in the circumstances of the case, to any relevant findings of published research in relation to the maintenance of children.
“(3) In taking into account the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of the child, the court shall:
(a) have regard to the capacity of the child to earn or derive income, including any assets of, under the control of or held for the benefit of the child that do not produce, but are capable of producing, income; and
(b) disregard:
(i) the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of any other person unless, in the special circumstances of the case, the court considers it appropriate to have regard to them; or
(ii) any entitlement of the child or any other person to an income tested pension, allowance or benefit.
“(4) Subsections (2) and (3) shall not be taken to limit by implication the matters to which the court may have regard in taking into account the matters referred to in subsection (1).
“66e. (1) In determining the financial contribution, or respective financial contributions, towards the financial support necessary for the maintenance of a child, that should be made by a party, or by parties, to the proceedings, the court shall take into account, in addition to the matters referred to in sections 60d, 66a and 66b, the following matters only:
(a) the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of the party or each of those parties;
(b) the commitments of the party, or each of those parties, that are necessary to enable the party to support:
(i) himself or herself; or
(ii) any other child or another person that the person has a duty to maintain;
(c) the direct and indirect costs incurred by the parent or other person who has the custody of the child in providing care for the child;
(d) any special circumstances which, if not taken into account in the particular case, would result in injustice or undue hardship to any person.
“(2) In taking into account the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of a party to the proceedings, the court shall have regard to the capacity of the party to earn and derive income, including any assets of, under the control of or held for the benefit of the party that do not produce, but are capable of producing, income.
“(3) In taking into account the direct and indirect costs incurred by the parent or other person who has custody of the child in providing care for the child, the court shall have regard to the income and earning capacity foregone by the parent or other person in providing that care.
“(4) In determining the financial contribution, or respective financial contributions, that should be made by a party, or by parties, to the proceedings, the court shall disregard:
(a) any entitlement of the child, or the person who has the custody of the child, to an income tested pension, allowance or benefit; and
(b) the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of any person who does not have a duty to maintain the child, or has such a duty but is not a party to the proceedings, unless, in the special circumstances of the case, the court considers it appropriate to have regard to them.
“(5) In determining the financial contribution, or respective financial contributions, that should be made by a party, or by parties, to the proceedings, the court shall consider the capacity of the party, or each of those parties, to provide maintenance by way of periodic payments before considering the capacity of the party, or each of those parties, to provide maintenance:
(a) by way of lump sum payment;
(b) by way of transfer or settlement of property; or
(c) in any other way.
“(6) Subsections (2) to (5) (inclusive) shall not be taken to limit by implication the matters to which the court may have regard in taking into account matters referred to in sub-section (1).
“66f. In proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a child, the court may, subject to this Division, make such order in relation to the maintenance of the child as is proper.
“66g. (1) The step-parent of a child has, subject to this Division, the duty of maintaining the child only if:
(a) the step-parent:
(i) is a guardian of the child; or
(ii) has custody of the child under an order of a court (whether or not made under this Act and whether made before or after the commencement of this section); or
(b) a court having jurisdiction under this Part, by order, determines that it is proper for the step-parent to have that duty.
“(2) In determining whether it is proper for a step-parent to have the duty of maintaining a step-child, the court shall take into account, in addition to the matters referred to in sections 60a, 66a and 66b, the following matters only:
(a) the length and circumstances of the marriage to the relevant parent of the child;
(b) the relationship that has existed between the step-parent and the child;
(c) the arrangements that have existed for the maintenance of the child;
(d) any special circumstances which, if not taken into account in the particular case, would result in injustice or undue hardship to any person.
“(3) Any duty of a step-parent to maintain a step-child:
(a) is a secondary duty subject to the primary duty of the parents of the child to maintain the child; and
(b) does not derogate from the primary duty of the parents to maintain the child.
“(4) In determining the financial contribution, or respective financial contributions, towards the financial support necessary for the maintenance of a child, that should be made by a party to the proceedings who is a stepparent of the child or by parties to the proceedings (one or more of whom is a step-parent of the child), the court shall take into account, in addition to the matters referred to in sections 60a, 66a, 66b and 66e, the extent to which the primary duty of the parents to maintain the child is being, and can be, fulfilled.
“66h. (1) The court shall not make an order for the maintenance of a child who has attained 18 years of age unless the court is satisfied that the provision of the maintenance is necessary:
(a) to enable the child to complete his or her education; or
(b) because of a mental or physical disability of the child.
“(2) The court shall not make an order for the maintenance of a child for a period that extends beyond the day on which the child will attain 18 years of age unless the court is satisfied that the provision of the maintenance beyond that day is necessary:
(a) to enable the child to complete his or her education; or
(b) because of a mental or physical disability of the child.
“(3) An order for the maintenance of a child ceases to be in force on the day on which the child attains 18 years of age unless the order is expressed to continue in force for a period ending after that day.
“66j. (1) In exercising its powers under this Division, a court may do all or any of the following:
(a) order payment of a lump sum, whether in one amount or by instalments;
(b) order payment of a weekly, monthly, yearly or other periodic amount;
(c) order that a specified transfer or settlement of property be made by way of maintenance for a child;
(d) order that payment of an amount ordered to be paid be wholly or partly secured as the court specifies;
(e) order that any necessary deed or instrument be executed, and that such documents of title be produced and such other things be done, as are necessary to enable an order to be carried out effectively or to provide security for the due performance of an order;
(f) order that payment be made to a specified person or public authority or into court;
(g) make a permanent order, an order pending the disposal of proceedings, an order for a fixed period, an order until a child attains a specified age or until further order;
(h) make an order imposing terms and conditions;
(j) make an order by consent;
(k) make any other order (whether or not of the same nature as those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) (inclusive)) that it considers appropriate;
(m) make an order under this Division at any time.
“(2) The making of an order of a kind referred to in paragraph (1) (c), or of any other order under this Division, in relation to the maintenance of a child does not prevent a court from making a subsequent order in relation to the maintenance of the child.
“(3) The Rules of Court may make provision with respect to the making of orders under this Division (whether as to their form or otherwise) for the purpose of facilitating their enforcement and the collection of maintenance payable under them.
“66k. Where, in proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a child:
(a) the court is of the opinion that the child is in immediate need of financial assistance; but
(b) it is not practicable in the circumstances to determine immediately what order (if any) should be made;
the court may order the payment, pending the disposal of the proceedings, of such periodic or other amount as the court considers appropriate.
“66l. (1) Where:
(a) a court makes an order under this Act (whether or not the order is made in proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a child, is made by consent or varies an earlier order), and the order has the effect of requiring:
(i) payment of a lump sum, whether in one amount or by instalments; or
(ii) the transfer or settlement of property; and
(b) the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the payment, transfer or settlement is to make provision for the maintenance of a child or children;
the court shall:
(c) express the order to be an order to which this section applies; and
(d) specify:
(i) the child or children for whose maintenance provision is made by the payment, transfer or settlement; and
(ii) the portion of the payment, or the value of the portion of the property, attributable to the provision of maintenance for the child or each child, as the case may be.
“(2) Where:
(a) a court makes an order of a kind referred to in paragraph (1) (a); and
(b) the order:
(i) is not expressed to be an order to which this section applies; or
(ii) is expressed to be an order to which this section applies, but does not comply with paragraph (1) (d);
any payment, transfer or settlement of a kind referred to in paragraph (1) (a), that the order has the effect of requiring, shall be taken not to make provision for the maintenance of a child.
“66m. (1) An order for the maintenance of a child ceases to be in force on the death of the child.
“(2) An order for the maintenance of a child ceases to be in force on the death of the person liable to make payments under the order.
“(3) Subsection (2) does not apply
in relation to an order made before the commencement of section 38 of the
“(4) An order for the maintenance of a child ceases to be in force on the adoption or marriage of the child.
“(5) Where a child for whose maintenance an order has been made under this Act dies, is adopted or marries, the person entitled to receive payments under the order shall, without delay, inform the person liable to make payments under the order.
“(6) Any amounts paid in relation to a period after the death, adoption or marriage, as the case may be, may be recovered in a court having jurisdiction under this Part.
“(7) Nothing in this section affects the recovery of arrears due under an order when the order ceased to be in force.
“(8) This section applies in relation to orders made under this Act (whether before or after the commencement of this section).
“66n. (1) In proceedings in relation to the maintenance of a child, if there is in force an order for the maintenance of the child:
(a) made by the court; or
(b) made by another court and registered in the court under the Rules of Court;
the court may, by order:
(c) discharge the order if there is just cause for so doing;
(d) suspend its operation wholly or in part and either until further order or until a fixed time or the happening of a future event;
(e) if the operation of the order has been suspended under paragraph (d), revive its operation wholly or in part; or
(f) subject to subsection (2), vary the order:
(i) so as to increase or decrease any amount ordered to be paid by the order; or
(ii) in any other way.
“(2) The court shall not vary the order so as to increase or decrease any amount ordered to be paid by the order unless it is satisfied:
(a) that, since the order was made or last varied:
(i) the circumstances of the child have so changed;
(ii) the circumstances of the person liable to make payments under the order have so changed; or
(iii) in the case of an order that operates in favour of, or is binding on, a legal personal representative—the circumstances of the estate are such;
as to justify its so doing;
(b) that, since the order was made or last varied, the cost of living has changed to such an extent as to justify its so doing;
(c) in a case where the order was made by consent—that the amount ordered to be paid is not proper or adequate; or
(d) that material facts were withheld from the court that made the order or from a court that varied the order, or material evidence previously given before such a court was false.
“(3) In satisfying itself for the purposes of paragraph (2) (b), the court shall have regard to any changes that have occurred in the Consumer Price Index published by the Australian Statistician.
“(4) The court shall not, in considering the variation of an order, have regard to a change in the cost of living unless at least 12 months have elapsed since the order was made or last varied having regard to a change in the cost of living.
“(5) In satisfying itself for the purposes of paragraph (2) (c), the court shall have regard to any payments, and any transfer or settlement of property, previously made to the child, or to any other person for the benefit of the child, by the person against whom the order was made.
“(6) An order decreasing a periodic amount payable under an order, or discharging an order, may be expressed to be retrospective to such day as the court considers appropriate.
“(7) Where an order (in this subsection called the ‘subsequent order’) decreasing a periodic amount payable under an order (in this subsection called the ‘earlier order’) is expressed to be retrospective, amounts paid under the earlier order that are not payable under the earlier order as varied by the subsequent order may be recovered in a court having jurisdiction under this Part.
“(8) Where an order discharging an order is expressed to be retrospective to a specified day, amounts paid under the second-mentioned order since the specified day may be recovered in a court having jurisdiction under this Part.
“(9) For the purposes of this section, the court shall have regard to the provisions of section 60d, sections 66a to 66e (inclusive) and section 66g (if applicable).
“(10) The discharge of an order does not affect the recovery of arrears due under the order when the discharge takes effect.
“(11) This section applies in relation to orders whether or not they were made under this Act and whether they were made before or after the commencement of this section.
“66p. (1) A child born to a woman during a marriage to which the woman is a party shall be presumed to be a child of the marriage.
“(2) A child born to a woman within 10 months after:
(a) a marriage to which the woman is a party is terminated by death; or
(b) a purported marriage to which the woman is a party is annulled;
shall be presumed to be a child of the marriage.
“(3) Where:
(a) after the parties to a marriage separated, they resumed cohabitation on one occasion;
(b) within a period of 3 months after the resumption of cohabitation, they again separated and thereafter lived separately and apart; and
(c) a child is born to the woman within 10 months after the period of cohabitation but after the dissolution of the marriage;
the child shall be presumed to be a child of the marriage.
“66q. A child born to a woman who, for a period of at least 6 months ending not more than 10 months before the birth, cohabited with a man to whom she was not married shall be presumed to be a child of that man.
“66r. A person whose name is entered in a register of births or parentage information, kept under the law of the Commonwealth or of a State, Territory or prescribed overseas jurisdiction, as a parent of a child shall be presumed to be a parent of the child.
Omit “thinks fit” (wherever occurring), substitute “considers appropriate”.
Omit “thinks fit”, substitute “considers appropriate”.
Omit “or of that Act as amended”.
Omit “thinks fit”, substitute “considers appropriate”.
Omit “his”, substitute “the person’s”.
Insert “, her” after “his”.
Omit “, under the regulations or under the Rules of Court”.
Omit “thinks”, substitute “considers”.
Omit “thinks”, substitute “considers”.
(a) Omit “thinks fit”, substitute “considers appropriate”.
(b) Omit “he” (wherever occurring), substitute “the person”.
(c) Omit “him”, substitute “the person”.
Omit “thinks fit”, substitute “considers appropriate”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the police officer”.
(a) Omit “he” (first occurring), substitute “the police officer”.
(b) Omit “he” (last occurring), substitute “the person”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the person”.
Omit “his”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the person”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the member”.
(a) Omit “his office”.
(b) Omit “under his hand”, substitute “signed and”.
Insert “or her” after “his” (wherever occurring).
Omit “him”, substitute “the member”.
Omit “his”, substitute “the”.
(a) Omit “he”, substitute “the person”.
(b) Omit “his”, substitute “the”.
(c) Omit “signed by him and”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the person”.
Omit “him”, substitute “the Attorney-General”.
Omit “he”, substitute “the member”.
Omit “his”.
(a) Omit “his office”.
(b) Omit “by him”.
Insert “or her” after “his” (wherever occurring).
Omit “to him”.
Omit “, under the regulations or under the Rules of Court”.
Omit “, under the regulations or under the Rules of Court”.
Insert “or her” after “his”.
Omit “thinks”, substitute “considers”.
Omit “thinks”, substitute “considers”.
Omit “thinks”, substitute “considers”.
Omit “thinks fit”, substitute “considers appropriate”.
Omit “-1973”.
Omit “him”, substitute “the Attorney-General”.
(a) Omit “his office”.
(b) Omit “by him”.
Insert “, her” after “his”.
1. No. 53, 1975, as amended. For previous amendments, see Nos. 63, 95 and 209, 1976; No. 102, 1977; No. 23, 1979; No. 2, 1982; Nos. 67 and 72, 1983; Nos. 63, 72 and 165, 1984; Nos. 65, 166 and 193, 1985; and Nos. 76 and 168, 1986.
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House of Representatives on 29 October 1987
Senate on 17 November 1987
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