Our Goals
The treatment of Australian families dealing with child access issues after separation is shameful and in many instances gender biased. We are seeking better outcomes – it’s time for change.
The ABF is committed to fixing policy relating to family access after separation, to provide fair access outcomes for fathers, their children and their families. As part of this we seek to change how family access disputes are dealt with by the Family Law system in Australia. Our families deserve better outcomes from shared parenting laws that can keep our children connected to their parents post separation. Statistics are very clear regarding the negative social impact children from fatherless families have on our society and the ABF can no longer stand by and allow flawed social policy to continue to damage the future of our nation.
Problems we see nationally with social policies that relate to family access after separation,
- Lengthy delays in the legal process
- How disputed access is determined
- Use of no fact evidence in custody matters
- How child support calculations are made
- Reduced burden of proof for DV matters
- Unenforced penalties for false allegation and perjury
Our families need care and support to deal with the trauma associated with the break down of relationships. Fathers dealing with limited child access to their children are more likely to struggle with long lasting emotional problems akin to PTSD. We believe by providing a family focused plan that promotes the role of shared parenting where suitable we can prevent many of these health issues.
Parents should have natural rights of access and a legal responsibility to care for their children. We suggest some very simple changes will go a long way toward providing positive life outcomes for children, families and our society.
Our policy’s relate to the main issues arising from the break up of relationships with children and reflect a common thread found among families dealing with access problems.
- Equal shared care on separation with mandatory enforcement.
- Remove the CSA calculations and replace with a flat rate child care payment.
- Introduction of heavy penalties for unfounded abuse allegations.
- Capped cost outcomes associated with Family Court matters.
- Establishment of a family access tribunal for child access issues.
- Criminalise parental alienation as child abuse.
- Provide gender neutral access to crisis accommodation and support.
Kids need both parents and society deserves better outcomes from the family law system and social policy.
Families need to be given every opportunity to heal and move on with life. Our children deserve the very best outcomes which include access to both parents. Together we can bring positive reforms to child access after separation.
Implementation of these basic parental rights of access should be the priority for every community leader and at every level of government!
