Dads in Distress - Help After Divorce / Separation

Ross Mitchell · Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 75

Quote:

Dear Mr Mitchell,

Thank you for contacting me regarding Dads In Distress and the Child Support Agency (CSA). I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to your concerns.

Family separation places significant pressure and stress on all members of the family unit. Labor has developed policy that aims to protect the child as a primary concern, ensuring that both parents contribute their children's wellbeing and encouraging both parents to maintain an ongoing role in their lives.

Addressing your concerns with CSA, Labor beleives that there should be a national and highly flexible Child Support Scheme recognising the variations in earnings and new family responsibilities which arise. This would be administered by a properly resourced Child Support Agency. This scheme would be regularly evaluated to ensure that it is constantly improves (sic) and made easier to understand.

The Opposition, in Parliament, has persued the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, for an explanation of the current funding agreements between the Commonwealth and the Dads In Distress organisation. These questions on notice, tabled on 31 May 2007, have yet to be answered.

If elected as your Representative in Paterson, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss the logistics of establishing a Dads In Distress group in Raymond Terrace. Until we are made aware of the current funding situation, however, I am unable to make the kind of commitment you are seeking.

Regarding domestic violence legislation, domestic violence is something that cannot be tolerated in any community. That is why Labor is committed to developing a national framework for tackling the issue, quite different from the ineffectual and peacemeal approach taken over the past twelve years.

I hope this information has gone some way to addressing your concerns over these issues. More comprehensive policy documents will be released asthe election draws closer. These will provide a more detailed insight into how Kevin Rudd and Labor will deliver a more compasionate and humane standard of Government.

Yours sincerely

Jim Arneman
Labor Candidate for Paterson

D4E · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 1856 Location: Western Australia

Hi Ross

I would be interested in what questions Mr Arneman was answering especially concerning domestic violence, I feel he may have been responding to a question of using it an an excuse but I may well be wrong.

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I never offer advice just options that might not have been seen.

Aussie · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 283 Location: Qld.

come on ross, we all know what the labour party thinks of family law reform and fathers issues, it has been well documented over the recent past, who is he trying to kid now, certainly not me.

lets get real about the issues and who stands for them, not promote those making empty promises contradicted by years of anti-father attitudes, sorry !

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:: that which does not break you, makes you stronger ::

VJ · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Perth, WA

Well said Aussie. Nice sentiment but it is just more empty promises from Labor.

Aussie · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 283 Location: Qld.

you are right VJ, I even get more sus about things when a person who joins the forum on the 30th Oct 2007 and posts his first and only post weeks prior to an election that touches on politics, go figure.

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:: that which does not break you, makes you stronger ::

D4E · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 1856 Location: Western Australia

Have to admit I really don't want to see the clock turned back to the late 70's and eighties.

Protecting the child as primary concern could cause more disruption if they feel it more practical to remove the father from the children than sort out any alienation problem by the mother. A role in their live may be just as a cash source.

The response could be taken either way.

I have to agree with Aussie as far as their recent past goes, several times I have read,seen or listen to Labour disagreeing with the advantages we all are chasing for our children.

I'm still on the fence but I gotta admit the fence is listing

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I never offer advice just options that might not have been seen.