Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Bills

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019; In Committee

8:46 pm

Photo of Pauline HansonPauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

There needs to be some clarification here. A lot of misperceptions have been thrown around the chamber. Labor is asking what deals have been done. The fact is that Senator Patrick has actually got an extra judge or registrar or whatever. Good on him. Good luck to him. No problem. I remember talking to former Prime Minister Turnbull. To get the backpacker tax through, the Greens were given $100 million for Landcare. Also, for Senator Lambie's vote for the tax cuts there was $150 million that went towards housing in Tasmania. Good on them. No problem. Our job here is to stand up for our states.

Now, I'll put something on the record. Have I done any deals? None. Zilch. Nothing. That is because I didn't ask for them. I believe in this policy and I have called for a merger of these two courts. The family law courts need to be addressed, and that's exactly what has been done here. You're playing politics, because you're not really looking at facts and you have not been involved in understanding what is happening in our family law system.

The facts are that in the 2020-21 budget the government provided the Federal Circuit Court with funding for an additional family law division judge and five family law judicial registrars. This will further help support the work of the court and alleviate pressure on judges.

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