MAITLAND'S domestic violence and homelessness service has voiced its frustration over plans for a new family court inquiry by the federal government.
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The inquiry, which passed through the Senate on Wednesday despite attempts by the Greens and Labor to block it, will examine the family court system including the cost of the court process, child support and the role of grandparents in custody arrangements.
Carrie's Place manager Jan McDonald said anti-violence advocates were exasperated by the federal government's push for the review.
"There are a number of aspects to this," she said.
"In 2017, there was an inquiry that was far ranging ... and not just within the sector but the community. There was opportunity for those who have gone through domestic violence to have a voice.
"A lot of submissions were lodged ... and lot of people participated in that process. It's only two years since that inquiry.
Every minute that goes by puts women and children at risk
- Jan McDonald
"[Yet] we've seen very little to zero implementation of those recommendations."
The 2017 inquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission made 60 recommendations to the government.
However, the government has not implemented any of the recommendations.
Ms McDonald said the advocates were also concerned by the appointment of Senator Pauline Hanson and Liberal MP Kevin Andrews as the inquiry's chairs.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who has been a vocal advocate for the inquiry, made comments suggesting parents were making false accusations of domestic violence to stop the other parent from seeing their children on Wednesday.
"This whole thing looks very much to us like it's intended to find something different to the 2017 recommendations," Ms McDonald said. "Our question to the government is: why, when we had a thorough process in 2017, would we want to spend money on a new review?"
Ms McDonald said that there were better ways to spend the money instead of on another review.
"It's money that could go to the sector," she said.
"There's a much better way to spend this money. The government need to actually stop with this and start implementing the recommendations. It's just a cynical political exercise otherwise. We want action from the government. Every minute that goes by puts women and children at risk."