Violent separations put kids in state care

The majority of Australian children in state care are there because of violent family separations, Queensland’s child safety inquiry has heard. One in four children in Australia witness violence against their mother or stepmother, the inquiry’s Commissioner Tim Carmody said on Monday. He also said 90 per cent of Family Court matters involve violent separations.

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Anti shared parenting lobbyists

Recently, we have seen the effects of many years lobbying by women’s groups and academics/researchers in the passage of the Family Law (Family Violence) Act 2010. This Act has effectively ‘rolled-back’ the shared-parenting gains of 2006 by broadening the definition of domestic violence so it now means anything one wants it to mean; removing penalties for false allegations

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The barristers’ way of “dealing” with self-represented litigants

If you are thinking about representing yourself in the Australian Family Court or Federal Magistrates’ Court  then this  report should be part of your required reading. It is important to understand how the other party’s representatives, barrister and/or solicitor will view you as a self represented litigant. In 2001, the New South Wales Bar Association became

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Italian Father gives up custody battle

Despair … the father caught up in an international custody battle has “had enough” and returned to Italy. Photo: Michelle Smith The Italian father embroiled in an international custody battle has left Australia after giving up hope he will win his legal fight to get his daughters back to Italy. The father – who cannot

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‘Custody case mars global standing’

AUSTRALIA’S international reputation is being damaged by a bitter and prolonged tug-of-love over four Italian-born sisters, a Family Court judge has been warned. Lawyers for the Queensland Department of Communities yesterday urged Justice Colin Forrest to swiftly return the girls — aged between nine and 15 — to their father in Italy and end the

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‘Custody sisters’ hopes of Aust stay rise

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8517104/sisters-in-last-ditch-bid-to-stay-in-aust The family of four sisters in an international custody dispute has been given fresh hope they will be allowed to stay in Australia pending another legal challenge. A Family Court judge is expected to decide later on Thursday whether to grant an application for a stay of his original order that the girls return

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Forged signature on housing finance application

This article may seem a little off-topic for the MRA Website, but be warned it is not. The Child Support Agency has for many years been able to access banking documents, loan applications and other financial details about your personal finances. On many occasions we have noted CSA have conducted a review and set the

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Men cannot sit next to unaccompanied children on Virgin flights

Two years ago,  British Airways found itself accused of blatant discrimination when flight attendants asked a male passenger to move away from sitting next to an unaccompanied minor. Mirko Fisher was embarassed and humiliated, so much so, he did not let it rest and took court action against British Airways. Read more here. Just this week, Virgin

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