October 14, 2024
The Australian newspaper is reporting that an ALP-led proposal will remove the presumption of equal shared responsibility for children following a relationship breakdown.
Under the Family Law Act 1975 there is a "presumption that both parents will have an equal parental responsibility—that is, they will both have a role in making decisions about major long-term issues such as where a child goes to school or major health issues," according to the Attorney General's website.
The proposed changes, which family law expert Partrick Parkinson says are "staggering," would remove that presumption in court disputes.
The newspaper notes that "domestic violence advocates" have welcomed the proposed changes, arguing that the "presumption of equal shared responsibility is often used by violent perpetrators to control the family and children."
According to Bettina Arndt, citing research from the 2016 Personal Safety survey, 1.2% of women are physically assaulted by their male partner or ex-parent each year.
"Physical violence is blessedly rare," she says.
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