Page "Family Court of Australia" Paragraph 9

However, the definitions of ‘ matrimonial cause ’ and ‘ de facto financial cause ’ differ in some respects, due to the different sources of Commonwealth power to legislate for these matters.

Paragraphs ( a ) to ( d ) of the definition of ‘ de facto financial cause ’, in the Family Law Act 1975 therefore, limit the proceedings within each of those sections to proceedings taken once the relevant de facto relationship has broken down.