Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has blasted the federal government's merger of the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court, but Premier Peter Gutwein believes it will provide a "simpler and fairer process".
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The government secured the votes of cross-bench senator Rex Patrick and One Nation on Wednesday, allowing the merger bill to pass despite vigorous opposition from legal groups and family violence services.
It prompted a passionate speech from senator Lambie who believed it would fail to fix the problems with the courts, and instead exacerbate them.
"If the Attorney-General was really committed to making our courts faster and fairer, he'd put his money where his mouth is, once and for all, and resource them, because that's what's missing here," she said.
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"The Federal Circuit Court is one of the busiest in the country. Along with family matters, it deals with things like migration cases, bankruptcy, intellectual property rights, workplace law, consumer issues and so on.
"We can't get families the support and services they need if we're sending them into a zoo to get their cases heard."
Concerns centred on the loss of family law specialisation, and a reduced priority on wrap-around family violence support services in the merged court. President of the Law Society of Tasmania, Trevor McKenna, said it would amount to a "watering down".
Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer had passed on concerns to Attorney-General Christian Porter, but said she was satisfied with the final bill.
"I'm satisfied that the intention of the legislation which is to reform the Family Court system to create a single point of entry for families so that they are no longer bounced around between different courts creating lengthy delays, will be achieved and won't adversely impact families," she said.
The changes involve Family Court matters entering the system in Division 2 of the newly-created FCFC, where some would be transferred to Division 1, which would also act as an appeal court.
Additional funding was provided to the family law system, including the relocation of the Family Court in Launceston.
Mr Gutwein said he believed the merger would improve the system.
"What this is about is providing a fairer and simpler process for people that are in a very difficult position," he said.
Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor held fears for women and children in the new system.
"The risk here is that the decision to close the Family Court will increase family violence because there will be more delays in court processes going through the Federal system, there will be more notifications to child safety, more assessments and more children put into the child safety system," she said.
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