Detailed Proposal - 30 May 2025 - Creation of the Family Court Investigative Service (FCIS)
Australia’s family law system is under increasing strain, leaving vulnerable children and parents exposed to significant harm. While courts perform their duties with dedication, they lack the real-time investigative, enforcement, and regulatory capacity needed to ensure safety, compliance, and accountability.
Families often face repeated breaches of court orders, false allegations with no consequence, and inconsistent regulation of family consultants and expert witnesses. This has led to widespread emotional, psychological, and financial distress — including increased rates of parental suicide, child trauma, and prolonged litigation.
Children are routinely denied a meaningful voice in proceedings. Protective parents are left powerless when orders are ignored. Mental health deterioration is now a recognised outcome of prolonged exposure to unresolved, high-conflict family law proceedings.
We believe an independent, federally legislated body. The Family Court Investigative Service (FCIS) is urgently needed to support the judiciary by:
Investigating serious allegations prior to or during proceedings
Enforcing court orders in real time
Regulating expert witnesses through a national accreditation framework
Providing trauma-informed child advocacy
Prosecuting procedural abuse, false claims, and deliberate non-compliance
The absence of such a body is causing preventable harm to children, families, and public confidence in the legal system.
We have submitted an application for a petition request via the Parliament of Australia E-Petitions Page. We will post the link once approved.
We respectfully urge the House of Representatives to support the creation of the FCIS through Commonwealth legislation to ensure the timely delivery of justice, protect children, and restore integrity and trust to family law in Australia.
