Australia’s family court ‘keeps women unsafe’ and is used against them, inquiry hears

The family law court of Australia in Sydney. A parliamentary inquiry has heard examples of perpetrators using the threat of family court proceedings to keep women in abusive relationships. Photograph: Artist85/AAP

Family violence workers have told a parliamentary inquiry the family court system is “keeping women unsafe” and is being weaponised by perpetrators to subject victims to further harm.

The inquiry heard examples of perpetrators using the threat of family court proceedings to keep women in abusive relationships, including to instil fears they will be bankrupted or lose access to children.