14 June 2005
Three high school students will question Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia Diana Bryant about the rights of children in custody and other court decisions at a Talkback Classroom forum at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on Thursday.
They will also ask Chief Justice Bryant about the cost and length of time of court proceedings, anger from some fathers about child support, and the challenges of shared custody.
The year 12 students - all from Sydney - set to quiz Chief Justice Bryant are: Eric White, Fort Street High School, and Sandra Nahi and Sarah Norcott, both from Liverpool Girls High School.
WHAT: Talkback Classroom with the Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, Diana Bryant
WHEN: 10.30am, Thursday, 16 June, 2005
WHERE: The Studio, National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula, Canberra
Talkback Classroom gives students access to key politicians and public figures as part of the national civics curriculum. Other guests at the National Museum of Australia this year include Peter Garrett, Labor Member for Kingsford Smith, and Peter Shergold, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Student preparation for Thursday's interview includes briefings from law lecturers, lawyers specialising in family law disputes, a justice of the Family Court and other legal experts, organised by the Parliamentary Education Office.
Two international Talkback Classroom sessions were held earlier this year, with links to the Smithsonian Institution in the United States and Te Papa Museum in New Zealand.
The Diana Bryant interview will be edited and broadcast on ABC Radio National's Life Matters program.
For interviews, images or more information please contact Leanda Coleman on 02 6208 5338, 0438 620 710 or Sandy Forbes on 02 6208 5351, 0409 916 481 or email media@nma.gov.au