1 While every picture tells a story, Every Story is Different In the best interests of the children A perspective of the 2006 amendments to the Family Law Act from the Family Court of Australia SHARED PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILY LAW AND THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE FAULKS 14 APRIL 2008

2 Overview Introduction Equal shared parental responsibility Best interests of children Meaningful relationships Violence Rebuttal of the presumption of ESPR and equal time Relocation The Less Adversarial Trial Some concluding thoughts

3 Equal Shared Parental Responsibility Presumption Rebuttable - what that means Does not in itself relate to the time children spend with a parent Does not dictate how PR will be shared

4 Best Interests of the Children The child or children’s best interests are paramount –Primary considerations –Additional considerations Need for evidence Those who can or will help

5 Meaningful Relationships No fixed or immutable meaning Godfrey & Saunders Meaningful does not necessarily equal optimal “…courts cannot by order create meaningful relationships between parents and children; they can only create or maintain the circumstances that make meaningful relationships possible” (Professor Patrick Parkinson)

6 Best interests Post 2006 the pathway may be different but the destination – to determine what would be in the child’s best interests – remains the same

7 Violence Width of definition Difficulties with evidence (AIFS research) FCoA’s Family Violence Strategy Magellan Role of FCoA is not to investigate but rather to evaluate the evidence Form 4s (Section 60K) What happens The effect of the LAT Safety and natural justice

8 Rebutting the Presumption Factors which militate against ESPR Recording outcomes The legislature cannot make laws to make people co-operate; judges cannot make orders to change human relationships

9 Equal time? The effect of the presumption The rebuttal of the presumption does not preclude of itself either parent seeking equal or substantial and significant time with a child Hearing and evaluation of factors identified under section 60CC

10 Relocation Meaningful relationship vs other factors The need for shared time to be practicable The importance of evidence Again, what is a meaningful relationship may not be an optimal relationship Other factors. There is no “happiness” principle!

11 The Less Adversarial Trial Division 12A Early judicial intervention Some Rules of Evidence do not apply but it will depend on the nature of the case Judicial control Involvement of the family consultants – the Child Responsive Program The importance of being able to be heard

12 The ideal People putting children first People finding solutions from knowledge and goodwill

13 The sad reality in many matters before the Family Court If parents cannot make the decisions they should, the court will make those decisions Bargaining in the shadow of the law

14 Putting Children First Objects and principles of the new legislation What are the best interests? How can we put the right matters before the court? How can we ensure that every different story is told?

15 Every picture tells a story Every story is different!