Joint custody recommendations win praise

 Parents’ groups and welfare organisations are welcoming most of the findings from a federal parliamentary inquiry into child custody arrangements.

The joint parliamentary committee is recommending a major shake-up of the nation’s child custody system, including significant changes to family law, courts and custody support payments.

In particular, the committee recommends a presumption of equal responsibility for children when a family breaks down, but has shied away  from legislating it.

The Australian Council of Social Service says the report’s recommendation  not to enshrine in legislation the presumed joint custody of children after  a marriage breakdown is a positive one.

ACOSS president Andrew MacCallum says personal history must be taken into  account when considering shared parental responsibility.

“Rebuttable presumption of joint custody will not go through and I think  that leaves it with the courts and I think that’s where it should,” Mr  McCallum said.

“I think every case is unique and think there needs to be some discretion  given to the family courts to make those decisions in the best interests of  the child.”

Men’s groups are also welcoming the shared custody recommendations.

Ian Hickman, from the Tasmanian Men’s Health and Wellbeing Association, says it puts parents on an equal footing before they negotiate their own  custody deals.

“I would expect that to happen on most occasions that they reach their own  arrangement,” Mr Hickman said.

“But the 50-50 is a good starting point because it doesn’t mean that one person is being empowered more right from the beginning to dictate terms to  the other one.”

However, there is less support for proposed changes to child custody payments.

ACOSS’s Mr MacCallum says the recommendation to double minimum child support payments to $10 it is unfair to parents on low incomes.