The University of Sydney's professor Patrick Parkinson is one of two authors behind a paper that is said to have been used as the basis for the government's "Parental Management Hearings" policy announced in the Budget earlier this month.

The $12.7 million trial would see family disputes being resolved by parents who are self-represented, assisted by family lawyers, psychologists, social workers and child development experts.

Professor Parkinson's paper suggested “a pilot program established in western Sydney or a community with a similar demographic profile, which would handle cases referred to it by the courts in which both parties either already were, or would choose to be, self-represented”.



In the wake of the Budget announcement, the Law Council said the $12.7 million set aside for the "Parent Management Hearings" would have been "been better applied to the courts", adding that the quasi judicial rulings may raise "significant constitutional" issues.