Family Law Act 1975

In giving effect to the relevant principles in section 102NE, the court must:

ask each party to the proceedings whether the party considers that the party, or another party to the proceedings, has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to family violence; and

in child‑related proceedings—ask each party to the proceedings whether the party considers that the child concerned has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to, or exposed to, abuse, neglect or family violence; and

decide which of the issues in the proceedings require full investigation and hearing and which may be disposed of summarily; and

decide the order in which the issues are to be decided; and

give directions or make orders about the timing of steps that are to be taken in the proceedings; and

in deciding whether a particular step is to be taken—consider whether the likely benefits of taking the step justify the costs of taking it; and

make appropriate use of technology; and

if the court considers it appropriate—encourage the parties to use family dispute resolution or, in child‑related proceedings, family counselling; and

deal with as many aspects of the matter as it can on a single occasion; and

deal with the matter, where appropriate, without requiring the parties’ physical attendance at court.

Subsection (1) does not limit subsection 102NE(1).

A failure to comply with subsection (1) does not invalidate an order.