NRS-21067 | Records re inquiry into de facto relationships [Law Reform Commission of NSW]

In June 1981 the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission wrote to the Attorney-General suggesting a reference in the following terms: "To inquire into and review the law relating to family and domestic relationships, with particular reference to the rights and obligations of a person living with another person as the husband or wife de facto of that other person, and including the rights and welfare of children of persons in such relationships". This suggestion was prompted in part by the concern expressed by judges and others that the current law was inadequate in relation to such matters as property disputes between de facto spouses and the remedies available in cases of domestic violence.On 13 July 1981 the Attorney-General made a reference in the terms suggested by the Chairman. The Commission invited the Family Law Council, an advisory body established by the Commonwealth Attorney-General under the Family Law Act 1975, to co-operate in the inquiry. On 17 December 1981 after extensive community consultation an issues paper was released and, in June 1984, a report was issued.These papers include: De Facto Questionnaire - Welfare Workers; articles; correspondence with the Attorney-General, the Australian Law Reform Commission and others; background papers; consultants; case studies; memoranda; questionnaire-legal practitioners; minutes of meetings of the De Facto Division; issues papers; media releases; the final report and other papers. These records include a number of audio cassette tapes.

1981年6月，法律改革委员会（Law Reform Commission）主席致函总检察长（Attorney-General），提议按照如下条款开展专项研究：“调查并审视与家庭及亲属关系相关的法律规范，重点关注以事实婚姻配偶（de facto spouse）身份与他人共同生活的当事人所享有的权利与承担的义务，并涵盖此类关系中当事人所生子女的权利与福祉”。
该提议的部分动因，源于法官及其他群体对现行法律在事实婚姻配偶间财产纠纷、家庭暴力案件可获救济等事项上存在明显不足的关切。
1981年7月13日，总检察长依照主席提议的条款正式启动该项研究。委员会邀请由联邦总检察长依据1975年《家庭法》（Family Law Act 1975）设立的咨询机构——家庭法律委员会（Family Law Council）协作开展本次调研。1981年12月17日，经广泛的公众咨询后，研究议题文件正式发布；1984年6月，最终研究报告正式公布。
本次研究涉及的相关材料包括：事实婚姻群体问卷（福利工作者版）、各类专题文章、与总检察长、澳大利亚法律改革委员会（Australian Law Reform Commission）及其他相关主体的往来函件、背景研究文件、顾问研究成果、案例分析报告、备忘录、法律从业者问卷、事实婚姻工作组会议纪要、议题文件、媒体新闻稿、最终研究报告及其他相关档案材料。
上述档案中还包含多盒音频磁带。