This week the Family Court has announced a new duty list to deal with urgent applications arising from COVID 19 isolation. A Registrar has been appointed to assess the urgent matters and if they meet the criteria, they will be listed before a Judge within 72 hours. Judges from all over the country will hear the urgent applications by telephone or Microsoft Teams.
Urgent Applications will be heard if they involve:
An increase in risk of family violence due to the limitations on families to conduct their normal routine.
If supervised contact is no longer available to a parent.
Parents live on opposite sides of state borders and are affected by closures.
A parent or child is ill with COVID 19 and cannot comply with their parenting obligations.
This program will run for three months where it will be re-assessed.
Further information is available on the Court’s website at http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au