NRS-21067 | Records re inquiry into de facto relationships [Law Reform Commission of NSW]

Full description

In June 1981 the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission wrote to the Attorney-General suggesting a reference in the following terms: "To inquire into and review the law relating to family and domestic relationships, with particular reference to the rights and obligations of a person living with another person as the husband or wife de facto of that other person, and including the rights and welfare of children of persons in such relationships". This suggestion was prompted in part by the concern expressed by judges and others that the current law was inadequate in relation to such matters as property disputes between de facto spouses and the remedies available in cases of domestic violence.

On 13 July 1981 the Attorney-General made a reference in the terms suggested by the Chairman. The Commission invited the Family Law Council, an advisory body established by the Commonwealth Attorney-General under the Family Law Act 1975, to co-operate in the inquiry. On 17 December 1981 after extensive community consultation an issues paper was released and, in June 1984, a report was issued.

These papers include: De Facto Questionnaire - Welfare Workers; articles; correspondence with the Attorney-General, the Australian Law Reform Commission and others; background papers; consultants; case studies; memoranda; questionnaire-legal practitioners; minutes of meetings of the De Facto Division; issues papers; media releases; the final report and other papers. These records include a number of audio cassette tapes.