Annual report [1997-98] - Family Court of Australia

The Family Court of Australia – annual report 1997-98
1 Dissolution (divorce) hearings
Standard: Dissolutions of marriage can be heard within 10 weeks of filing
Outcome: This standard was met by all but two of the 11 filing registries in the last quarter
of the financial year. Darwin Registry was just outside the performance standard as at
the end of the financial year and this is expected to improve following the appointment of
a Darwin-based SES Registrar. Six registries met the standard every month during the year,
two met the standard in 10 months, one in nine months and two in eight months. While this
represents a slight drop in performance over the previous year’s figures in terms of the
number of months in which the standard was met, registries were rarely over one-and-ahalf
weeks beyond the standard.
2 First directions hearings
Standard: Form 7 ancillary applications listed within six weeks
Outcome: Two of the registries were able to meet the time standard in the last quarter of
the financial year compared with only one registry at the end of last financial year.
Generally registries found this standard difficult to meet, with only one registry meeting
the standard for 10 months and one for eight months. Two registries did not meet the standard
in any month, three registries met the standard in three months, two in four months,
one in five months and one in six months. However, most registries were able to reduce the
number of weeks they were over the standard or meet the standard more often in the second
half of the financial year.
3 Form 8 applications
Standard: Form 8 interim or procedural applications listed within four weeks
Outcome: Seven registries were able to meet this time standard in the last quarter of the
year. Although no registry was able to meet the time standard for every month, in most registries
the delay was only slightly beyond standards. Brisbane Registry did not meet the
time standard in any month but was able to reduce the average waiting time by almost a
week. However, the extent of the delay as at the end of the final quarter remains a concern.
Darwin met the time standard in only two months, four other registries met the standard
for 5 months of the year, two for eight months, two for nine months and one for 10 months.
4 Registrars conferences
Standard: Conciliation conference in standard track financial matters available
within 12 weeks from directions hearing
Outcome: Six of the registries were able to meet this time standard for every month and
one registry met the time standard in all the months in which a conciliation conference was
required. All but two registries increased or equalled the number of months for which this
time standard was met compared to the previous year. By the last quarter of the year all
registries except one were meeting the standard.
5 Conciliation counselling
Standard: Conciliation counselling available within three weeks from
first directions hearing
Outcome:This standard was met by four of the 11 registries in the last quarter of the financial
year; Sydney and Hobart registries were able to meet the standard for the 12 months
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