During the past month we have watched the Queensland minister for Families Youth and Community Care, Anna Bligh make political mileage out of the “boy in the box story”. This was the tragic case where a little boy was kept tied up in a cardboard box for three weeks. He suffered 80 cigarette burns to
Year: 2000
Street protester beats judges at own game
The Family Court brought contempt charges against a father hostile to its decisions but, writes Bernard Lane, could not sustain them. [Picture of Alastair Nicholson. Caption: “Judged: Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson”] [Picture of Terry O’Gorman. Caption: “Jury, please: Terry O’Gorman] Half an hour after the collapse of the highly unusual contempt of court case against
Child-support reforms ‘unfair’
The promise of fairer child-support rules has been dashed by an unfair and restrictive regulation enforced by the Child Support Agency, according to the Men’s Rights Agency.
The law was changed last year to, among other things, allow paying parents to divert up to 25 per cent of their child support into benefits or services provided directly to their children.
But, by restricting payments to just eight approved categories, the Child Support Agency has been accused of undermining the will of Parliament and perpetuating the unfairness in the system.
Reformers return fire at Family Court
Commentary – Men’s Rights Agency ALRC Report draws suggestions the Chief Justice of the Family Court should stand down! The release of the Australian Law Reform Commission final report into the Australian federal justice system confirms their interim findings that the Family Court has a history of failed reform and is inflexible. Following the
Child payments: A-G’s advice on jailing ‘wrong’
Attorney General Daryl Williams has been accused of deliberately misleading a Government Senator over plans to jail parents who fall behind in child-support payments.
Prominent advocacy group, the Men’s Rights Agency, claimed yesterday Mr Williams was wrong when he said tough new jailing provisions planned for maintenance defaulters would apply only to those with court orders predating the Child Support Agency.
Children tell MP: agency stole their life savings
Four Queensland children have written to their local Member of Parliament claiming the Child Support Agency ‘ stole’ their life savings to help pay their father’s $43,000 child-support debt.
The children, aged between nine and 15 years, said in the letter $2099.32 had been seized on Christmas Eve from a bank savings account their father operated as trustee for them.
A Family by any other name
Whether headed by singles, same-sex couples, step-parents or the nuclear duo model, the 21st century family’s sheer diversity may prove to be its strength. Wake up to the new century and smell the roses. Toss aside your millennium angst – it belongs to the dying months of 1999. Society, family, relationships, marriage, sex, love –
Labour and Democrat Senators reject CSA relief for payers!
The Senate has rejected most of the changes contained in the child support legislation that would benefit paying parents.
The Child Support Amendment Bill (No 2) 2000 was to provide for a reduction in child support, by acknowledging that there is a cost involved in caring for children during contact visits. A 2 and 3 percent reduction in the formula amount was envisaged for non-custodial parents who have between 10 – 19%, and 20 – 29% contact time, respectively.