Little room in the budget for Family Court children

May 22, 2026 — 5:00am

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

The federal budget has attracted so much attention that few noticed vulnerable children caught in the middle of family law proceedings are about to lose their most important safety net.

Legal Aid NSW is expected to restrict appearances by court-appointed Independent Children’s Lawyers, who represent the interests of children in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, as part of a suite of cuts to services following ongoing funding shortfalls.

The Herald’s Michaela Whitbourn reports that by year’s end, legal aid grants will no longer be available for ICLs to appear at final hearings, unless at least one parent is self-represented. They will not appear in appeals.

Further, eligibility for assistance for adults in family law parenting and property........

© The Sydney Morning Herald