8September2017

FamilyViolenceTaskForceAttorney-General's Department3-5NationalCircuit

BARTONACT2600

Byemail:

FamilyLawAmendment (FamilyViolenceandCross-examinationofParties)Bill2017

ThankyoufortheopportunitytocontributetotheAttorney-General’sDepartment'sconsiderationofthisimportanttopicofinquiry,theproposedamendmentstotheFamilyLawAct1975(Cth)toaddressdirectcross-examinationofpartiesinfamilylawproceedingsinvolvingfamilyviolence.

CaxtonLegalCentreisQueensland'soldestcommunitylegalcentre. CaxtonLegalCentre'sobjectsaretoprovidelegalandsocialwelfareservicestolowincomeanddisadvantagedpersonsinneedofrelieffrompoverty,distress,misfortune,destitutionandhelplessness,andtoeducatesuchpeopleinlegal,socialwelfareandrelatedmatters.

FamilyLawandfamilyviolencehavebeenkeyfeaturesofouradviceandadvocacyworksincewefirstbeganoperating.Wehaveadvisedbothmaleandfemaleclientsinavarietyofrelationshipcontexts-includingintimate,personal, familyandcarerrelationships.WeappearasdutylawyerintheBrisbaneDomesticViolenceCourt,theFamilyLawCourtandtheFamilyandSupportServicebasedintheFamilyCourtofAustraliaatBrisbane.

Contentsofsubmission

1.Shoulddirectcross-examinationonlybeautomaticallybannedinspecificcircumstances?

Yes.

2. Shoulddirectcrossexaminationbebannedineachofthespecificcircumstancessetoutinthenewproposed subsection102NA(l)?

Directcross-examinationshould onlybebannedinthecircumstancesoutlinedins102NA(l)(c)(i) wherethereareconvictionsfor,ortheperpetratorischargedwith,anoffenceinvolvingviolenceorathreatofviolencebytheperpetratortowardsthevictim.Thereoughtnotbeanautomaticbanninginthecircumstancealonewheretherearecross-ordersinplace(asproposedins102NA{l)(c)(ii)).

3. Shoulddirectcross-examinationbebannedinanyadditionalcircumstancesnotreferredtointhenewproposedsection102NA(l)? For example, inthecourts’NoticeofRisk/NoticeofChildAbuse,FamilyViolenceorRiskofFamilyViolence.

NACLC

Th1SJ:t'nlre1s

ace d1tedblJthe

NatmncilAssociation

Communityof(ommunny

Leva!Centres legalCentres

No. Theproposeddefinedcircumstancessetoutinthenewproposeds102NA{l}isadequate.

4.Shouldanybanondirectcross-examinationapplyytobothpartiestoproceedingsaskingquestionsofeachother,or onlytotheallegedperpetratorofthefamilyviolenceaskingquestionsoftheallegedvictim?

Thebanshouldapplytobothparties.Thiswillreducetherisk ofany dynamicofpower,control,vulnerabilities,traumaandhighfamilyconflicteffectingtheevidencesoughtorprovided,andensurethatallrelevantevidencepossibleispresentedtotheCourt.Toensureproceduralfairness,anIndependent personshouldbeappointedbytheCourtforbothparties.

5.Should thediscretionarypoweronlybeexercisedonapplicationbytheallegedvictim,orbytheCourts'ownmotion, orshouldtheallegedperpetrator alsobeabletomakeanapplicationtoprevent directcrossexamination.

DiscretionarypowershouldbeexercisedonApplicationbyeithertheallegedvictimortheperpetrator.ItshouldalsobebytheCourt'smotion,orbyApplicationbythe IndependentChildren'sLawyer(ifappointed).TheremaybeunintendedconsequencesofthelegislationifdiscretionarypowerisonlytobeexercisedonanApplicationsolelybytheallegedvictim.

ThereoughttobedefinedfactorsthattheCourtshouldtakeintoaccountinexercisingitsdiscretion,includingtheconditionsinthedomesticviolenceorder,thenatureoftheviolencealleged,whethertherehavebeenanybreachesoftheOrders,andprofessionalevidenceoftheimpactoftheallegedviolenceonthevictim.

DefiningthefactorstheCourtshouldtakeintoaccountgivesrecognitiontothecircumstancesinwhichvictimswouldusuallybere-traumatisedviadirectcross­examination.Providingthe Courtwiththediscretiononitsownmotionwillassisttoensurethatthevictimsoffamilyviolenceinthesecircumstancesarenotre-traumatisedandareappropriatelysupportedinputtingevidencebeforetheCourt.Itwillalsoassisttoimprovethecapacityofthewitnesstoappropriatelyandfullyansweranyquestionsbyreducingfearsandanxietiesofbeingconfrontedbytheperpetrator intheCourtsetting.Itwillalsoassisttoreducerisksthatthewitnesswillbeintimidatedand/orwillwithdrawtheirApplicationoragreetoinappropriateorunsafeConsentOrdersinordertoavoidbeingdirectlyquestionedbytheperpetrator.

Thisproposalwillalsoassisttopreventtheperpetrator fromusingtheirself-representedstatustoperpetratefurtherabusetothewitnessbyusingthejudicialprocessthroughthefamilylawsystem.

2

6.Whichpeoplewouldbemostappropriatetobeappointed bytheCourttoaskquestionson behalfoftheself-representedperson?Forexample,acourtemployeenotinvolvedintheproceedings,otherprofessionals,laypeople.

Seriousconsiderationoughttobegiventoalternativeprocessesfortheappointmentofapersontoaskthequestionsonbehalfoftheself-representedperson.Thealternativeprocessesshouldbeevidence-based,i.e.derivedfrom otherjurisdictionswherethereisclearevidencethatacertainprocessworksto balancethecompetingneedsofthevictimbeingprotectedfromfurtherre-traumatising,andtherightsoftheperpetratortonaturaljustice.

7.Whatqualifications, ifanyshouldtheCourtappointedpersonhave?Law/psychology/socialwork/socialsciences/mediation/justice.

IftheprocesswastobeaCourtappointedpersonthentheissuesthatariseare:

1.IfthepersonistobealawyerappointedbytheCourt, oralawyerappointed byLegalAidQueensland(attheCourt'sdirection)ina similarprocesstothatoftheappointmentofanIndependent Children'sLawyer,orincriminalCourtswherethissituationarises,thereareseriouslegalprofessionalpracticeissuesatoddswiththenatureofthisappointment.Theappointedlawyerwouldbeexpectedtobesomethingmorethanadutylawyerbutsomethinglessthanalawyerontherecordfortheproceedings.Thelawyerappointedshouldbegivenadvocate'simmunity(suchasitis)astheyareperformingtheroleofabarrister,withoutproperlyandfullybeingbriefedinthematter.

2.The personappointedshouldbealawyerwithexperienceindomesticandfamilyviolenceandfamilylawmatters,whoisboundby thelegalprofessionalrulesandethicsandwhounderstandsthenature,purposeandrulesofcross­examinationsoasavoidthepitfallsassociatedwithlaypeopleconductingcross-examinationandtheimpactonthevictimandevidenceobtained.

3.Ideally,theappointedpersonwouldhaveanunderstandingofthedynamicsofdomesticviolenceandparticipatedinatrainingworkshopondomesticviolenceandtrauma/culturalcompetency.

4.Itisdifficulttoimaginehowapersonfromanotherprofessionalbackgroundmayconductcross-examinationwhichisafluid processofteninvolvingaskingquestionsbasedonthepreviousanswers,whichlawyersmaybeskilledat,butskillsalaypersondoesnotpossess.

8.ShouldanyrequirementsregardingwhotheCourtcanappointandtheirqualificationsbeincluded intheFamilyLawAct?

3

Yes,thereshouldberequirementsregardingwhotheCourtcanappointandtheirqualificationsbeincludedintheFamilyLawAct1975.

9.ShouldanyfurtherinformationaboutthescopeoftheroleoftheCourtappointedpersonbeincludedintheFamilyLawAct?

ACourt-appointedlawyerwouldtakeinstructionsfromtheself-representedpersonintheusualmannerrequiredofalawyerrepresentingapartytoproceedingsbutrecognisingthatthisisalimitedretainer.Issuesofallegationsofprofessional negligencemaybeofconcerntopractitionerswhodonothavefullaccesstotheCourtfile.Theremayhavetobeamendmentstolawyer'sprofessionalconductrules.

Iftheperson appointedisapersoninanotherprofession/layperson,theywouldhavetomeetwiththeself-representedpartyandbeguidedonlybythatperson'slistofcross-examinationquestions.Itmaybeplacingtoomuchresponsibilityonalaypersontoactlike alawyer(which isrequiredbyvirtueoftheverynatureofthecross­examinationprocesswhichisfluid,notstatic)whentheyarenotalawyer.TherewouldhavetobeexceptionstothepublishingrulesifthelaypersonwastohaveaccesstotheCourtfile.

TheCourtappointedpersonshouldbepresentduringtheevidenceofrelevantpeople

i.e.reportwriter'sandotherexpertwitnessessoastoknowtheevidencethathasbeengivensoastobeabletoeffectivelycross-examinethewitness.

TheCourtappointedpersonisindependenttotheIndependentChildren'sLawyerandshouldbeentitledtocommunicatewiththeIndependentChildren'sLawyersoastoclarifyanyrelevantissueswithrespecttothechildandtheevidence presentedbytheIndependentChildren'sLawyer(i.e.FamilyReports).

Ifthepersonappointedisalayperson,theself-representedpersonshouldnotbeallowedtoappointthepersonwhoisappointedattheCourt.However,theyshouldbeabletoputforwardasuitablepersonforconsiderationand/orapprovalbytheCourt.Thiswouldalsoallowtheotherpartiesinthemattertomakesubmissionsaboutthesuitabilityof theproposedquestioner.Thiswillensurethataquestionerisnotappointedwhowillbeusedbytheself-representedlitiganttofurtherperpetrateabuseuponthewitness.

•HowtheCourt-appointedpersonobtainsquestions from theself-representedparty:

Yes-identifyhowthepersonobtainsthequestionsfromtheself-representedpartyandwhat thelevelofassistanceistobeprovided/constrainedto.

4

•ThelevelofengagementoftheCourt-appointed personshouldhavewithaself­representedpartyonwhosebehalftheyareaskingquestions:

Yes-identifyappropriatelevelandlimitengagementtothecrossexaminationoftheotherpartyandtoextractinformationthatisrelevanttothat.

•Whether theCourt-appointed personshouldbepresentinCourtfor thewholeoftheproceedingsorjustduringthecrossexamination:

Yes.

•WhatdiscretiontheCourtappointedpersoncanexercise(ifany)inrelationtoaskingthequestionstheyhavebeenprovidedbytheself-representedparty:

Yes,theCourtappointedpersoncanexercisediscretioninrelationtoformulatingandaskingquestionstheyhavebeenprovidedbyself-representedlitiganttosafeguardagainstfurthertraumaorabusewithintheCourtprocessandtoensurethattheCourtappointedpersonupholdstheirownethical andlegalobligations.

•WhethertheCourt-appointed person canask any questions of theirown (notprovidedbytheself-representedparty)duringcross-examination?:

Yes,ifthequestionsarerelevanttothecaseandproceduralfairness.Thisshouldbediscussedwiththeself-represented,andbedoneoninstructionsandinlinewithprofessionalobligations.

•Whether theyareunderdutytocooperatewithotherpartiestotheproceedingssuchastheindependentChildren'sLawyerappointedinthecase:

Yes-Asabove.

•Shouldtheself-representedpersonbeallowedtonominatewhoisappointedbythecourttoaskquestionsontheirbehalf:

Asabove

10.DoyouhaveanyconcernsaboutaCourt-appointedperson'smodel?

Yes.Asperabove.

11.ShouldtheCourtonlygrantleavefordirectcross-examinationtooccurifbothpartiestotheproceedings consent?i.e.whereanalleged victimconsentstobeingdirectly

5

cross-examinedorconsentstoconductingdirectcross-examination,shouldtheallegedperpetrator's consentalsoberequired?

TheCourtshoulduseitsdiscretionbasedontheevidencebeforeittodeterminewhethertograntleave.Viewsofthepartiesshouldbeobtained,butnotbethedeterminingfactor.

12.ShouldtheCourtonlygrantleavefordirectcross-examinationtooccurifithasconsideredwhetherthecross-examinationwillhaveaharmfulimpactonthepartythatistheallegedvictimofthefamilyviolence?

TheCourtshouldonlygrantleavefordirectcross-examinationtooccurifithasconsideredwhethercross-examinationwillhaveaharmfulimpactupontheallegedvictimoffamilyviolence.TheCourtshouldconsiderwhethertheimpactoffamilyviolenceandtraumahasimpactedtheabilityofthevictimtogiveevidenceandincorporateariskassessmentmodelintotheCourttoassessimpact.

13.ShouldtheCourtonlygrantleavefordirectcross-examinationtooccurifithasconsideredwhetherthecross-examinationwilladverselyaffectthe abilityofthepartybeing cross-examinedtotestifyunderthecrossexamination,andtheabilityofthepartyconductingthecross-examinationtoconductthatcross-examination?:

Yes

14.ArethereanyotherissuestheCourtshouldberequiredtoconsiderbeforegrantingleavefordirectcross-examinationtooccur?

Theallegationsofviolence,theimpactuponthevictim,theabilityofthevictimtoprovide evidenceand/ortocross-examinetheallegedperpetratorandtheeffectthiswillhave intheproceedingsoverall.

15.Shouldtheamendmentsapplytoproceedingsstartedbeforethelawcomesintoeffect,orshouldtheyonlyapplytoproceedingsstartedafterthelawcomesintoeffect?

Yes-Theyshouldapplytoallfamilylaw proceedings,eventhosecommencedpriortothelawchange.

16.Shouldanyofthechangesbemadetotheproposedamendmentstoensurethatallpartiesreceiveafairhearing?

ConsiderationsshouldalsobemadeforATSl/CALDcommunitiesandsupportrequiredtoensureaproceduralfairnessanddueprocessinthecontestoffamilyviolencewithin those communities.

6

17.Shouldanychanges bemadetotheproposedamendmentstoensurethattheCourtscanbesatisfiedthatanycrossexaminationofthepartiesthatoccursthroughaCourtappointedpersonwillenablethejudicialofficertoaccordproceduralfairnesstotheparties?

Asperabove.

18.ShouldanyofthechangesbemadetotheproposedamendmentstoensurethatCourtsareabletomakeinformeddecisions?

TheCourtshouldbeabletoinformitselfonissuesoffamilyviolencetoensureproceduralfairnessanddueprocess.

19.Shouldanychangesbemadetotheproposedamendmentstoensurethattheydonothaveanyunintendedconsequencesforvictimsoffamilyviolence?

Asper above.

This submission was prepared byMsRenea Hart,attheCentre. Forfurther informationpleasecontactReneaHearton[contact details redacted].

Yours faithfully,

McDougallDirector

CaxtonLegalCentre

7