Episode Details

In this episode of This Week in Family Law, we cover the latest updates in Australian family law, including 2026 national and state statistics on marriages and divorces, Webex divorce hearings, and the recent non-compliance case of Catlin and Catlin.

In Law in Motion, we explore the Hague Convention cases behind the controversial 60 minutes episode titled 'The Point of No Return' and the court's response to the program.



Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - What's Up? - Updates in Family Law for this week
7:57 - Law in Motion - Hague Convention
21:25 - Case Note Corner - Catlin and Catlin (No 2)



Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for general information and discussion purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on as such. The views expressed are general in nature and may not apply to your specific circumstances. You should seek independent legal advice before acting on any information discussed.



About the podcast:
This Week in Family Law is the go-to podcast for busy Australian family lawyers looking to stay updated without the overwhelm. Whether you’re a family lawyer in Australia, a practitioner working towards CPD, or simply interested in family law, this podcast delivers clear, practical insights in a bite-sized format. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest developments in Australian family law. New episodes drop every Monday.



Topics covered in this episode:
- National and state statistics on marriages and divorces
- Divorce hearings moving to video (Webex)
- Rebel Wilson wins defamation battle with Charlotte (Debbie) MacInnes
- Changes to Supreme Court administrative arrangements
- Hague Convention & international child abduction
- The Court responds to 60 Minutes: The Point of No Return
- Family violence, child safety & return orders
- Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner



Links:
ABS national and state statistics on marriages and divorces 
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/marriages-and-divorces-australia/latest-release

https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/7-interesting-stats-about-australian-marriages-and-divorces-2025


Divorce hearings moving to video
https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/news-and-media-centre/updates-profession/divorce-pilot-national-rollout


Rebel Wilson wins defamation battle
https://lsj.com.au/articles/rebel-wilson-wins-defamation-battle/


Changes to the Supreme Court’s administrative arrangements 
https://supremecourt.nsw.gov.au/documents/media/sc20260731.pdf


Hague Convention
https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/news-and-media-centre/latest-news/hague-report

https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes/season-2026/episode-15

https://lsj.com.au/articles/the-limits-of-the-hague-convention-in-child-abduction-cases/

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1F/2021/263.html?context=1;query=Department%2520of%2520Communities%2520and%2520Justice%2520&%2520Bamfield;mask_path=

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1F/2022/2.html

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1F/2022/3.html

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1A/2022/35.html?context=1;query=Department%2520of%2520Communities%2520and%2520Justice%2520&%2520Bamfield;mask_path=

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1F/2022/918.html

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCATrans/2022/209.html?context=1;query=Department%2520of%2520Communities%2520and%2520Justice%2520&%2520Bamfield;mask_path=

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FedCFamC1F/2022/1077.html?context=1;query=Department%2520of%2520Communities%2520and%2520Justice%