FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT ACT 1977

No. 102 of 1977

An Act to amend the Family Law Act 1975 to fix a maximum age for Judges of the Family Court of Australia and for related purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title, &c.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Family Law Amendment Act 1977.

(2) The Family Law Act 1975 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Appointment, removal and resignation of Judges

3. Section 22 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (3).

4. After section 23 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:

Maximum age for Judges

“23a. For the purposes of section 72 of the Constitution, the age of 65 years is fixed as the maximum age for Judges.”.

Exercise of jurisdiction

5. Section 28 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in sub-section (4) “or the term of appointment of one of the Judges constituting the Full Court expires,” before “then”.