Relief within reach for broken families

Broken families will be given access to quick and informal hearings to determine parenting arrangements under a proposed new pilot program.

Attorney-General George Brandis paved the way for the free hearings, which would deliver binding results, through legislation tabled in parliament on Wednesday.

"When mum and dad fight, children hurt. The longer the conflict, the more intense the conflict, the greater the pain suffered by the children," Senator Brandis said.

The attorney pointed to research which showed it was protracted conflict, rather than family separation itself, which harmed children.

The costs, delays and adversarial nature of existing systems to determine custody, prolonged and exacerbated conflict.

"Traditionally the onus is on the opposing sides to assemble and argue their cases, but these hearings will undertake inquiries and gather information to deliver informed and safe outcomes for families," he said.

Experts in family law, dispute resolution, family violence, psychology, mental health and child development will conduct the hearings.

The forums will be designed with self-represented litigants in mind and with the best interests of children at the fore.

Participation will be consent-based, rather than forced, and parties will be able to appeal decisions based on questions of law to the federal circuit court.

Counselling and family violence services will also be offered.

The pilot is due to begin in Parramatta in mid-2018 and another site later that year, if the laws pass parliament.

Another bill seeks to reduce the need for families to navigate multiple courts.

States and territories would be given greater powers to handle family law matters, when families are already before them for related family violence or child protection matters.

"Those families can then avoid further delays, expense, trauma and risks of violence that can increase when parties have to navigate both state and federal courts," Senator Brandis said.

Police would also be able to charge offenders for breaching personal protection injunctions, rather than victims having to bring applications to the family court.