Other measures in the Attorney-General’s portfolio
A new family law system — children’s contact service
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.6 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 7.9 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Total | 0.9 | 2.9 | 4.9 | 8.2 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $17.0 million over four years (including $0.1 million in capital funding) for an additional 30 children’s contact services, taking it to a total of 65. These services improve opportunities for children to contact their non-residential parents by providing a neutral facility where parents can place children in the care of the other parent. The services can also include supervised contact where such contact has been agreed or ordered.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
See also the related capital and expense measures titled A new family law system in the Attorney-General’s and Family and Community Services portfolios.
Further information can be found in the press release of 29 July 2004 issued by the Prime Minister.
A new family law system — contact order programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.9 | 4.0 | 8.2 | 7.6 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Total | 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.6 | 8.0 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | .. | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $23.4 million over four years (including $34,000 in capital funding) for an additional 15 services under the Contact Order Programme, taking it to a total of 20. The programme works with high conflict families experiencing difficulties with contact arrangements after separation, especially where contact orders are breached. The services assist families through group work and individual and family sessions.
The Family Relationship Centres and the courts will be able to refer high conflict families to the service to help them resolve contact disputes and improve compliance with contact orders.
Given the success rate of the existing programme, expansion should result in a reduction in contravention applications and a greater feeling of satisfaction with the family law system.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
See also the related capital and expense measures titled A new family law system in the Attorney-General’s and Family and Community Services portfolios.
Further information can be found in the press release of 29 July 2004 issued by the Prime Minister.
A new family law system — dispute resolution
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.6 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $13.4 million over four years (including $0.1 million in capital funding) to expand community-based dispute resolution services, including mediation.
Changes to family law will require parents (with some exceptions) to undertake some form of dispute resolution before they can file a parenting matter in the courts. While the Family Relationship Centres will provide much of this dispute resolution service, other services are expected to experience an increase in demand.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
See also the related capital and expense measures titled A new family law system in the Attorney-General’s and Family and Community Services portfolios.
Further information can be found in the press release of 29 July 2004 issued by the Prime Minister.
A new family law system — dispute resolution for grandparents
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
The Government will provide $1.7 million over four years to enable grandparents to participate in out of court methods (eg mediation) that will facilitate contact with their grandchildren.
This funding will enable grandparents, particularly those who have limited financial resources, to obtain agreements, without recourse to the Courts, that enable them to have an appropriate role in their grandchildren’s lives.
Legal aid commissions will run mediation and counselling sessions specifically for grandparents, and other extended family members, who wish to develop arrangements for participation in their grandchildren’s lives.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story – Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
See also the related capital and expense measures titled A new family law system in the Attorney-General’s and Family and Community Services portfolios.
Further information can be found in the press release of 29 July 2004 issued by the Prime Minister.
A new family law system — Family Relationship Centres
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 5.4 | 32.7 | 62.6 | 91.5 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Total | 7.0 | 34.3 | 64.3 | 93.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $199.1 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital funding) to establish a network of 65 Family Relationship Centres across Australia. These centres will provide separating couples with an opportunity to resolve their child custody disputes without having to go to court. Separating parents will have free access to information, advice and up to three hours of dispute resolution services with a parenting advisor.
These centres will also help couples access pre-marriage education and assist families experiencing relationship difficulties with information and access to family skills training and support delivered through other Australian Government, state and territory government and non-government organisations.
The Family Relationship Centres will also provide face-to-face out-reach services to rural areas and will encourage Indigenous families to make use of the new system.
The centres will be supported by a national advice line and website.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
A new family law system — Family Relationship Services
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 12.2 | 23.3 | 31.4 | 37.7 |
| Attorney-General’s Department | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Total | 20.1 | 31.3 | 39.6 | 46.1 |
The Government will provide additional funding of $137.1 million over four years to increase family relationship services.
The measure will provide $63.1 million over four years to maintain the increased funding of $15 million provided to the Family Relationship Services Programmes as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004-05.
It will also expand early intervention programmes by $61.6 million over four years to help families experiencing relationship difficulties including pre-marriage education, family counselling and skills training.
Finally, this measure will continue and expand funding to Men’s Line Australia by $12.4 million over four years to provide a national 24-hour telephone counseling, information and referral service for men.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
A new family law system — National Education Campaign
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 1.9 | 1.2 | - | - |
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.5 | 1.0 | - | - |
| Total | 3.4 | 2.3 | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | .. | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.7 million over two years (including $34,000 in capital funding) to fund a community education campaign to increase awareness about the legislative changes to the Family Law Act 1975 and to promote the consideration of the needs of children following separation. The campaign strategy will also increase awareness of the support services that are available to families that are experiencing relationship difficulties.
This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs report Every picture tells a story — Report on the inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
Arming Australian Customs Service vessels
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 0.8 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $25.2 million over four years (including $0.8 million in capital funding) to arm and provide additional trained crew for eight Australian Customs Service vessels. This measure will enhance Customs’ capacity to intercept and board vessels in a variety of operations dealing with drugs, people smuggling, counter-terrorism and illegal fishing.
Attorney-General’s Department — additional funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.7 |
The Government will provide net additional funding of $23.7 million over four years to the Attorney-General’s Department following a review of the department’s resourcing.
Additional funding of $33.7 million is being provided for workload increases since 2001 for both national security and wider responsibilities, as well as providing for enhanced resource and financial management. This additional funding is being partially offset by savings of $10.0 million over four years.
Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity — establishment
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.5 million over four years (including $1.0 million in capital funding) to establish the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) to help prevent, detect and investigate corruption within the Australian Crime Commission, Australian Federal Police and other Australian Government agencies with law enforcement functions.
This funding includes $0.6 million for the Attorney-General’s Department in 2005-06 to facilitate the establishment of ACLEI. The remaining funding will be transferred to ACLEI upon its establishment.
Further information can be found in the press release of 16 June 2004 issued by the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice and Customs.
Court security
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Court of Australia | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Administrative Appeals Tribunal | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| High Court of Australia | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Total | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| High Court of Australia | 0.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.9 million (including $0.2 million in capital funding) over four years to improve security in the Family Court of Australia, the Family Court of Western Australia (FCWA), the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the High Court of Australia. This measure replaces the funding arrangements announced in the 2004-05 Budget for security measures in these courts.
The Attorney-General’s Department reimburses Western Australia to the extent that FCWA costs exceed the court’s own source revenue. This reimbursement will be increased by $1.1 million over four years, reflecting the costs for improved security.
Customs activities in China
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
The Government will provide $7.4 million over four years to strengthen the Australian Customs Service’s capacity to deal with border protection, cargo and trade measures issues.
The funding will enable a permanent presence of Customs officers in China, in addition to the previously announced Customs office in Beijing.
See also the related expense measure titled Australian Customs Service — Customs post in Beijing in the Attorney-General’s portfolio.
Drafting of legislation — increased capacity
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of Parliamentary Counsel | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Office of Parliamentary Counsel | .. | .. | .. | - |
The Government will provide $8.0 million over four years (including $75,000 in capital funding) to increase the legislative drafting capacity of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel by funding the recruiting, training and retention of additional drafters.
Family law disputes — increased capacity
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Magistrates Court | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Federal Magistrates Court | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Federal Magistrates Court | - | 0.3 | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.5 million over four years (including $0.3 million in capital funding in 2006-07) to the Federal Magistrates Court to increase its capacity in the Sydney Central Business District to deal with family law disputes. The funding will enable the appointment of two federal magistrates in Sydney, providing a greater ability to address less complex family law disputes expeditiously.
The cost of the additional magistrates will be fully offset by increasing the divorce fee in the Federal Magistrates Court by $46.
Free trade agreements — specialist advice
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.9 million over four years to enable the Attorney-General’s Department to provide specialist policy and legal advice to support the negotiation of free trade agreements.
The cost of this measure will be fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Attorney-General’s Department.
High Court of Australia — additional resourcing
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Court of Australia | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
The Government will provide $4.8 million over four years for additional staff to improve the High Court of Australia’s record management system, public information service and the timeliness of case preparation.
Identity security — pilot programmes
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 5.4 | 0.5 | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.9 million over two years (including capital funding of $68,000 in 2005-06) to undertake two identity-related pilot programmes. The programmes will examine the feasibility of an on-line document verification service and using data matching to help detect false identities.
Imports — additional revenue compliance activities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| Australian Taxation Office | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 10.8 | 23.2 | 24.8 | 26.5 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 1.6 | - | - | - |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of the Treasury | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
The Government will provide $28.2 million over four years (including $1.6 million in capital funding) to the Australian Customs Service to undertake additional compliance activities and increase the number of audits on import duty and goods and services tax (GST) assessments.
The component of this funding which is related to GST compliance, $6.2 million over four years, will be provided to Customs via the Australian Taxation Office under an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies. The states and territories will reimburse the Commonwealth for the cost of undertaking the GST compliance activities.
The cost of undertaking the non-GST related compliance activities, $22.0 million over four years, will be recovered in part through the restructure of the Import Processing Charge (see the related revenue measure Import Processing Charge — restructure).
The additional compliance activities are expected to result in increased tax revenue from import duties of around $85 million over four years and increased GST revenue to the states and territories of around $21 million over four years (see also the related measure Additional Customs compliance activities in Budget Paper No. 3, Federal Financial Relations 2005-06).
International Criminal Court — contribution
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
The Government will provide $3.5 million over four years for Australia’s contribution to the operation of the International Criminal Court. This is in addition to the funding provided in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 Budgets.
Australia has an obligation under Article 115 of the International Criminal Court Statute to contribute financially to the Court.
National Pro Bono Resource Centre — continuation of funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.0 million over four years from 2005-06 to continue funding for the National Pro Bono Resource Centre (NPBRC). The NPBRC is a non-profit community-based organisation established to encourage the legal profession to provide pro bono legal aid (free or reduced cost work) to disadvantaged people in the community.
The NPBRC was previously referred to as the National Pro Bono Secretariat, the creation of which was announced in the 2001-02 Budget.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Operation Auxin — additional funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of Film and Literature Classification | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.3 million in 2004-05 to meet the cost of the additional workload for the Office of Film and Literature Classification arising from Operation Auxin.
Operation Auxin is a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police and State and Territory law enforcement authorities, targeting internet child pornography. The Office of Film and Literature Classification classifies material on application from police. Such classifications may be used as evidence of the nature of the material in prosecutions.
Proceeds of Crime legislation — continuation of funding for implementation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia | - | - | - | - |
| Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $7.4 million over two years, from 2005-06, to fund prosecutions made by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and for the control and realisation of seized assets by the Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia (ITSA).
This continues the funding announced in the 2003-04 Budget. Future funding will be considered following a review of the legislation’s impact on DPP and ITSA workloads.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Review of criminal penalties in Commonwealth legislation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.6 million over two years from 2005-06 to review criminal penalties set out in Commonwealth legislation.
The review will consider whether Commonwealth penalties are consistent with Government policies, help deter people from committing crimes and appropriately reflect community expectations. The review will involve consultation with state and territory governments and relevant professional groups. Community input will also be sought.
The cost of this measure is being fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Attorney-General’s Department.
This measure was announced on 5 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment National Security — the First Responsibility of Government.