News from the Family Court

This article is part of an occasional series on family law issues which covers a variety of different subjects and points of view. Articles in recent issues of Family Matters have canvassed topics such as indigenous people and the legal system, reforms to the English divorce legislation, the international movement of children and the sterilisation of young people. The present article provides updates on these topics. Details are provided about the extremely laborious passage through Parliament of the English divorce law reforms. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives in the Family Court are outlined, with a focus on the role of the Court's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awareness Committee. In addressing child abduction matters, brief background to the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is followed by consideration of a recent case where children brought to Australia said they wanted to stay. Finally, sterilisation of children with an intellectual disability is discussed, with reference to Marion's case and JLS v JLW.