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Childhood victims of Family Law system urged to make submissions as Inquiry deadline nears

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MEDIA RELEASE

Childhood victims of poor outcomes from the Family Law system are urged to pass their concerns – along with their suggestions for improvements – to the Parliament’s Family Law Inquiry.

The deadline for making submissions to the landmark inquiry closes on December 18.

This review is the most holistic investigation of the entire Family Law and Child Support systems in decades; it is unhindered by tight terms of reference, short time-frames or geographical difficulties.

“Children are often the most impacted by family breakup, with the confusion and hurt of seeing their parents split on many occasions amplified by the added challenges of dealing with the court system,” Senator Hanson said.

“So I want to encourage any teenagers, young adults and even grown-ups who experienced such problems when they were children, to all consider making a submission to the Inquiry.

“The committee needs to know the problems of the family law system, and those who experienced the difficulties have valuable first-hand personal  information that can help improve the system for families into the future.”

The inquiry will investigate every aspect of the Family Law and Child Support systems, from custody issues, support payments, performance of lawyers and court appointed experts, delays in the court system, and other issues.

“I have only one aim with this inquiry and that is to help facilitate a holistic, unhindered, unbiased review into a very complex system that is impacting negatively on the lives of hundreds and thousands of men, women and children across Australia,” Senator Hanson said.

“There are countless stories of hardships and problems caused as a result of the broken family law system, for men and women, but particularly impacting children.

“So we need this review to look at all the issues honestly, and come up with solutions to make the process better for those impacted.”

The inquiry committee will hold hearings across Australia, in both cities and rural areas.

For information about the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System, including guides to making a submission, visit: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Family_Law_System/FamilyLaw

The Committee Secretariat can be contacted at:

PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 3439

Email: familylaw.sen@aph.gov.au

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Pauline Hanson on Family Law

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I am very proud that I have played a role in highlighting the dire need for an all-encompassing inquiry of the Family Law and Child Support systems in Australia, and I thank the Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to give it the go-ahead.

An examination of this system is a need that I have pushed since first entering public life in 1996 and ramped that up further from my re-election as a senator in 2016.

This inquiry will be historic in that it will deliver the most comprehensive examination of the Family Law system in decades. 

It is a shame that Labor voted against this review, but I will leave it up to Labor MPs and Senators to explain their blunt opposition to their supporters who are suffering and actually need this review.

I am concerned that some self-interest groups are already trying to demean this vital investigation by suggesting I have an agenda or intend to show favouritism to certain sectors through the inquiry process. That suggestion is rubbish.

I have only one aim: to help facilitate a holistic, unhindered, unbiased review into a very complex system that is impacting negatively on the lives of hundreds and thousands of men, women and children across Australia.

Some commentators have suggested I will side with men in this review. That is also not true. Men and women, equally, reveal horror experiences created as a result of the Family Law system.

I do acknowledge that men are often unfairly disadvantaged and stigmatised in many family breakup situations, are often left without a voice and overlooked in favour of women’s rights; however, this review will listen to everyone.

It is true that there have been previous reviews, but all of those reviews were focussed on specific niche aspects of the Family Law and Child Support systems. This review will be unique in that it will look at the entire system; it is unhindered by tight terms of reference, short time-frames or geographical difficulties.

This review will welcome all opinions, all voices, all suggestions, from men and women from all cities and rural areas.

We need change to the Family Law system. We can only achieve that by putting aside political and philosophical differences and supporting a thorough, honest and open inquiry.

Kind regards

Pauline Hanson

Senator for Queensland

Leader of One Nation

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Hi-vis vests, King Gees and boots? Pauline Hanson welcomes mineworkers to share Family Law experiences

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Media Release

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson has assured she will push for hearings for the Family Law Inquiry to be scheduled in every state and territory, including in some of Australia’s remote mining areas.

The assurance has been welcomed by West Australian MLC Robin Scott, whose electorate includes the mining City of Kalgoorlie Boulder, and includes family law issues as key recent concerns.

Senator Hanson wants to make sure key sectors of the working community are not overlooked and that they get convenient access to the listening ears of committee members when the historic inquiry begins.

“This issue impacts people in all walks of Australian life – it doesn’t discriminate – and mine workers are among sectors of society that have been hit very hard, both financially and emotionally, by the problems in the system,” Senator Hanson said.

“I want to make sure they are able to have a say – they can turn up in their high-vis shirts, King Gees and work boots, however they feel comfortable – but they must have that opportunity to express their views.

“I’ll be pushing hard to make sure hearings are scheduled in key mining regions because everyone needs to be heard and we will come to them.”

Some mineworkers say they feel like they are regarded as “milking cows”, being continually hit for more funds by their ex-partners because of the relatively high wages they might receive as a result of the hard labour that goes with their profession. They also often feel they have nowhere to turn due to the remoteness of many of their work sites.

One Nation’s Mr Scott, whose constituents include the workers in Kalgoorlie Boulder, is a strong advocate for those locals impacted by Family Law shortcomings.

Mr Scott acknowledged there were horror stories from both men and women, and the review would give everyone a chance to have a say.

He also noted the high attendance at a Family Law and Child Safety forum held in Mandurah, just near Perth, in August as indicating the readiness of the local community to respond to the historic review.

The Family Law Inquiry is the most comprehensive review of the Family Law and Child Support systems in decades. It will be made up of 10 members of parliament and senators and will invite submissions from the public in coming weeks.

ENDS

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Emotional Sen Hanson admits shedding tears at her Family Law inquiry success

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ONE NATION leader Pauline Hanson has revealed how she shed tears on the confirmation that her long awaited inquiry into Australia’s family Law system would go ahead.

Senator Hanson has pushed personally for the inquiry for the past three years, believing it to be the most important social matter facing Australia today.

She added that the news of the high-level and far-reaching review will actually go ahead will bring hope to hundreds of thousands of Australians who “are floundering” in such difficult situations.

“When I received confirmation that this inquiry into Australia’s Family Law system is going ahead, I actually cried,” Senator Hanson told journalist of the Canberra Press Gallery.

“I cried because I know the heartache that is felt by hundreds of thousands of Australians impacted by the shortcomings of the Family Law system, at a time when they are going through one of the most difficult challenges of their lives – creating normality after separation and divorce.

“I also cried because of the realisation of the hopethat this inquiry will finally bringto people who are floundering in these situations.”

Senator Hanson noted that past investigations had revealed that three men each day commit suicide and one woman each week is murdered, as a result of the stress and hardships of the Family Law and Child Support regime.

“Just imagine, over the weekend, while most of us were enjoying time with friends and family, an average six men took their own lives, and far too many women experienced serious family violence,” she noted.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t live with that on my conscience, and these deaths are only occurring because Governments have failed to listen and act on the broken family law system.”

Senator Hanson noted that the Joint Select Committee on Reform of Australia’s Family Law System “will delve into the various aspects that have been making life unbearable for so many people dealing with separation and the aftermaths”.

“It will investigate all aspects of the family law and child support regime – custody arrangements, the division of assets, the impact of decisions made at ‘judges’ discretion’; the costs of legal representation, the behaviour of lawyers who, at times, drag the matters out for their own financial gain; the well-being of children; access for grandparents and other family members, and more.”

Sen Hanson said she expected the inquiry to be conducted over the course of 12 months, with public hearings to be held across Australia, in both rural areas and cities.

“This inquiry will not be an easy one,” she said.

“It will be emotional; I can imagine that I will not be the only one shedding more tears – most often in private – as this process goes forward.

“I thank the Prime Minister for his support of this ground-breaking inquiry, and I encourage the media here today to provide its support as we journey through this huge and important task.

“My goal – with community, political and media support – is to totally rebuild and make a better, more-workable, family law system for separating and separated couples and their families.

“And for those who are in the midst of family breakdown, those contemplating suicide and facing potential family violence, I’m asking you to stop and know that you’ve finally been heard.

“I beg you, please give me a chance to try and make change.” 

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