Family court merger laws pass first hurdle

Draft laws to merge the Family and Federal Courts have passed the first hurdle of parliament.

Labor voted against the legislation over concerns about a lack of consultation with the legal community, but the draft laws were voted for 75 to 68 in the lower house on Tuesday.

A Senate inquiry into the draft laws won't be finalised until mid-April, forcing the government to turn its back on the January 1 date it had originally slated for the merger.