What the Data Reveals -
Perjury in Australia’s Family Courts
This document shares key findings from a national survey conducted by the Family Law Reform Foundation.

The results highlight a justice system where perjury is widespread, unpunished, and deeply damaging—especially to children.
Executive Summary
Perjury in Family Court is widespread, proven — and ignored.
In just two months of this national survey — with 2,476 visits and 102 respondents so far:
  • 98% of respondents said perjury affected their case
  • 87% had evidence — such as emails, documents, or witness testimony — to prove it
  • Yet 0% of reports were even investigated, and therefore 0% led to penalties
This survey reveals a systemic failure to enforce perjury and cost laws in Family Court. Since 2014, only one referral has been made, which resulted in a conviction. No other referrals are on record.
It reveals a legal culture where lying is unpunished, truth is optional, and accountability is absent.

The question is no longer whether perjury is a problem — but why the Court refuses to act.
One failure to address perjury is troubling. Routine inaction signals systemic failure — fueling conflict, dragging out cases, overloading the system, and deepening harm to families.
And who benefits from this silence, besides the liars? The data demonstrates it is the lawyers.

Key Questions for MP's and Senators
  1. Do you support the consistent enforcement of family law, including laws against perjury and dishonest conduct?
  1. If these laws are routinely ignored, would you support a Senate or similar inquiry into their broader systemic impacts?
This isn’t a controversial request, we’re simply asking for existing laws to be enforced. If an elected representative can’t publicly support that, they effectively oppose it.
While 102 responses may seem modest, it's significant given the climate of fear around Family Court, the survey’s short two-month window, and the broader public concern reflected in petitions and forums involving hundreds of thousands of Australians, outlined below.
Table of contents
  • Demographics and Perjury Prevalence
Demographics and Perjury Prevalence
Respondent Demographics
60% Male, 40% Female.
Perjury is not gendered.
Perjury in Family Court
98% experienced perjury.
And perjury is a crime.
Evidence Types
Perjury isn’t just suspected —
87% of respondents had proof.
Impact of Perjury on Cases
92.8 say perjury impacted their case, and only 2% reported no impact.
It’s not just parents who suffer—children often bear the greatest harm. Perjury in Family Court is more than just dishonesty; it's a direct violation of civil liberties, undermines the integrity of the legal system and denies all parties—especially children—their fundamental right to a fair and just process.
Which Authority Was it Reported To
Reported to:
  • 43% reported perjury to their lawyer
  • 24% reported it to the court or judge
  • 16% reported it to the state police
  • 15% did not report it at all
  • 2% reported it to the Australian Federal Police
This shows that the majority of reports were made to legal professionals or the court, while only a small fraction reached law enforcement, particularly federal authorities.
Authorities' Response to Perjury
Not a single authority advised reporting perjury to the AFP. Instead, they ignored it, deflected responsibility, delayed action, or dismissed it entirely.
Even if someone tries to report it, perjury isn’t listed on the AFP’s crime reporting website—making it the only federal crime without a reporting pathway. If it’s not enforced, why does the law exist?
Some argue that Family Court is a civil matter. But if someone were assaulted in court, the matter would be investigated and charges would follow.
So why is perjury—that often causes deeper long-term harm—treated as acceptable?
Accountability and Lawyer's Role in Conflict
Accountability for Perjury
83.3%: Say perjury went unpunished
16.7%: Respondents were unsure
0%: Perpetrators were punished
Role of Lawyers in Conflict
95.3% believe the other party's lawyer escalated conflict, and only 4.7% say they had little or no effect.
Is it reasonable to conclude that:
  • Perjury fuels conflict?
  • Conflict extends cases—which means more billable hours for lawyers?
  • High-conflict cases benefit lawyers most?
If lawyers know perjury won’t be punished, how does that shape the advice they give? And who really profits when lies are ignored?
Cost Recovery: A Right Denied
Even with evidence of perjury, costs are rarely awarded—despite Section 117 of the Family Law Act.
0%
Cost Recovery Rate
Not a single respondent was awarded costs—even where there was evidence of perjury
28%
Lack of Awareness
Didn't know cost recovery was possible in family court proceedings
47%
Lawyer Discouragement
Were told by legal representatives that costs are rarely awarded in family court
❌ Denied Applications
7% applied for cost recovery but were denied despite having evidence of perjury.
🔍 Future Intent
18% still intend to apply for cost recovery despite the discouraging statistics.
The result?
🔴 Families face financial ruin.
❌ Wrongdoers face no consequences.
💰 Lawyers profit from prolonged, high-conflict cases.
🛡️ Civil liberties of law-abiding citizens are disregarded.
If lawyers know costs won’t be awarded—and that perjury goes unpunished—what incentive is there to resolve matters early?
In a system where dishonesty is rewarded, conflict becomes the most profitable business model.
Case Resolution Stage
Before Court
17.6% settled before court (mediation)
Early Court Stage
11.8% settled early court stage
Post-Interim Hearing
5.9% settled post-interim hearing
Close to Trial
29.4% settled close to trial
Final Hearing/Judgment
35.3% ended after final hearing/judgment
⚖️ What Could Fix This?
Courts say they’re overwhelmed and under-resourced.
But if perjury were referred and investigated—especially early—cases would resolve faster, with less damage to families and children.
Yet nearly two-thirds of cases drag on until just before or after the final hearing.
As lawyers routinely say: "They’ll settle on the courthouse steps.” Why is that standard industry practice?
❓ So Who Benefits?
When perjury is ignored and cases are prolonged:
  • Families suffer
  • Children stay trapped in conflict
  • Lawyers profit from the delay
It raises a hard question:
Who truly benefits from perjury and drawn-out proceedings?
It’s certainly not the children—despite what the Family Law Act intends.
Is Justice Blind (to Perjury?)
Daily Telegraph Article Summary – "We Make Court Less Ruff"
Chief Justice William Alstergren has introduced a therapy dog program in NSW Family Courts. The goal is to reduce stress and improve the quality of evidence, by creating a calmer courtroom environment.
NSW Law Society President Jennifer Ball stated: "Lawyers rely on their witnesses giving the best evidence possible."
The initiative is well-intentioned, but what truly improves evidence in court: puppies, or penalties for those who lie under oath?

If truth is optional in Family Court — as it is when lying under oath carries no consequence — what does that say about the safety, fairness, and legitimacy of its outcomes?
And in such a system, who does Justice ultimately serve? How can it be families?
Government Intervention - An Easy Fix
Successive governments have promised to reform the family law system—yet they've failed to fix it's root problems. Why?
2020: Joint Select Committee Recommendation 12
"The committee recommends that the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia establish a mechanism by which allegations of a person wilfully misleading the court in family law proceedings can be reviewed, and where appropriate, referred for investigation for perjury." ​
Government Response
The Australian Government responded that courts already have the power to uphold truthfulness—through contempt charges, cost orders, and overturning fraudulent rulings. Courts can also refer suspected perjury to the AFP, but it's up to police and prosecutors to investigate and act, maintaining judicial neutrality.
The Real Question
So, is the real problem a lack of laws—or a failure to enforce the ones we already have?
Our Elected Politicians
We are calling on Members of Parliament to clarify their stance: Should existing laws be properly enforced in the Family Court, or should the current culture of non-enforcement continue?
"In my view, if legislation and the ALRC report do not assuage public concerns about the family law system, it must surely be time to consider a royal commission into family law"
- Former Chief Justice Pascoe, October 2018
Key Conclusions & Call to Action🔍
The system is broken—not for lack of laws, but lack of enforcement.
❗What the Data Shows
  • Perjury is rampant: 98% witnessed it, 0% were punished for it.
  • It causes real harm: 93% said it impacted their case—often harming children.
  • Reporting fails: Authorities dismiss or deflect, with no clear referral pathway.
  • Lawyers escalate conflict: 95% say opposing counsel made things worse.
  • No cost recovery: Not one respondent received costs, even with evidence of perjury.
⚖️ Why It Matters
  • Families are drained—financially and emotionally.
  • Children’s futures are caught in the crossfire.
  • Liars face no consequences.
  • Lawyers profit from prolonged conflict.
  • Public trust in the justice system is collapsing.
📣 What Needs to Change
  • Enforce the perjury and cost laws that already exist.
  • Stop treating perjury as a private issue—it’s a public crisis.
  • Hold the system accountable to the standards it claims to uphold.
🏛 How? A Senate Inquiry
A Senate inquiry is needed to investigate:
  • Why perjury laws are not being enforced in the Family Court.
  • What systemic effects this failure has on families, outcomes, and justice.
  • How it influences the conduct of lawyers and undermines the broader legal system.
We have invited Members of Parliament and Senators to share their position on this issue. All responses, or lack of, will be transparently published as part of our commitment to public accountability.
✅ Take Action
  • 🖊 Complete the survey here or in the slide below to add more data.
  • 📢 Share it widely—every response strengthens the case for reform.
Change starts with data.
Complaining changes nothing—evidence drives action.
Public Support - By Electorate
Australians are increasingly demanding family court reform through numerous petitions. The data shows growing public concern about perjury enforcement and the system in general, which can be viewed below or at Family Law - Signatures by Electorate
View some of the Petitions
Over 60,000 Australians have signed petitions demanding urgent family law reform—many citing false allegations and unpunished perjury as core concerns. Based on a conservative 10:1 support ratio, this represents over 600,000 Australians calling for accountability and change.
Online Communities Demanding Reform
Beyond petitions, nearly 70,000 Australians are actively involved in the Facebook groups below, all with common themes of family court reform, parental rights, and justice system accountability. These communities share a clear message: enforce perjury laws and fix the broken family law system. And this is just a few on Facebook—many more are speaking out across Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms.
View some of the groups here
This digital groundswell reflects a much larger movement. For every person speaking out, many more stay silent—yet deeply affected, including other family members. The call for reform is not isolated; it’s a nationwide demand for truth, justice, and accountability.
Make Your Voice Count - Survey Link
Have you experienced the family law system? Share your story and help drive change.
Click here to take the survey.
Your input fuels real reform.
See live data from across Australia and add your voice to the growing call for accountability, which can be found here Live Dashboard - Survey Data