Clause 6

replace subsection (3A) with —“(3A) Where an application may be made to either a Family Court or the Family Division of the High Court, the application must be made in the first instance to a Family Court.”;

before subsection (7), insert —“(6B) Where any written law specifies that any provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 apply to any family proceedings, those provisions apply to the family proceedings in the Family Court with any modifications that may be prescribed by the Family Justice Rules.”;

in subsection (8), delete “, or jurisdiction of a quasi‑criminal nature,”;

in subsection (8), replace paragraph (b) with —“(b)the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 apply to those proceedings in the Family Court, with any modifications that may be prescribed by the Family Justice Rules.”; and

replace subsection (9) with —“(9) Subject to any other written law, a Family Court may, either on its own motion or on the application of any person, order any party to any proceedings in a Family Court, or any child involved in or whose custody or welfare is involved in the proceedings —

to undergo any mediation or other alternative dispute resolution process or counselling, or to participate in any family support programme or activity, as directed by the Family Court; or

to attend any professional clinical or therapeutic intervention sessions as directed by the Family Court.(10) Where a Family Court orders any party or child to undergo any mediation or other alternative dispute resolution process under subsection (9), the Family Court also has the following powers:

to conduct the mediation or other alternative dispute resolution process;

to appoint a judicial officer, an officer of the Family Justice Courts or any other person to conduct the mediation or other alternative dispute resolution process.(11) Despite the provisions of the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act 2016, failure to comply with any order made under subsection (9) on or after the date of commencement of section 6(e) of the Family Justice Reform Act 2023 does not constitute a contempt of court.(12) Where a person fails to comply with any order made under subsection (9) on or after the date of commencement of section 6(e) of the Family Justice Reform Act 2023 in any proceedings, the Family Court may —

stay the proceedings until the order has been complied with;

order any person responsible for the non‑compliance to pay the costs of the proceedings; or

make any other order that the Family Court thinks fit.”.