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Family relationship centres announced |
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The first 15 of 65 family relationship centres to be opened by the
federal government will be in areas with high numbers of young families.
The centres are intended to help families and protect the rights of the
child, but fathers groups are demanding improved rights for fathers.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock announced the location of the first 15
centres - spread throughout the six states and the Northern Territory -
at a family event in Penrith in Sydney's west.
The first centres will operating by July next year with a total of 65 being established over the next three years.
The centres were part of the new family law system and would become a
vital source of support and assistance for families, Mr Ruddock said.
"The centres will become an integral part of their community by
becoming the first port of call when people need help to make their
relationships stronger or when relationships end," he said.
"We have located the first centres in areas with high numbers of
families with young children and high numbers of divorced or separated
families and blended families."
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During a question and answer session with members of the public
following the announcement, Mr Ruddock came under fire from fathers
groups seeking further changes to the family law system to help fathers
with custody issues.
Alex Peniazev from Men's Rights Agency said the current laws favoured women over men.
"The centres are a good idea but our concern is that we are not getting
what we want, which is equal rights for men," Mr Peniazev said.
"The current Family Law Act is full of unfairness and inequality -
children have the right to have contact with both of their parents on
an equal basis."
Mr Ruddock said he hoped the centres would help both parents work through their issues.
"There is a lot of hurt," Mr Ruddock told reporters.
"Laws deal with the way in which people will arbitrate, if you get
people to sit down and sort the things through themselves, even a
percentage, might help."
Family services provider Catholic Welfare Australia welcomed the
announcement, and said the centres would mean less time in court and
make for happier families.
"The new Family Relationship Centres will provide new ways for families
to resolve disputes without relying on the courts," Catholic Welfare
Australia executive director Frank Quinlan said.
"For children in particular, we know that less dispute will mean less damage in the long-run."
The first centres will be in Lismore, Wollongong, Sutherland and
Penrith in NSW; Mildura, Sunshine, Frankston and Ringwood in Victoria;
Townsville and Strathpine in Queensland; Joondalup, Western Australia;
Salisbury, South Australia, Hobart Tasmania, Darwin, in the Northern
Territory and in Canberra. |
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