Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The amendments are rejected. I considered all the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on their merits, and on this matter I am persuaded that the committee got it right. It was a committee of members of the government and members of the opposition. If somebody had proposed that we should have unequal shared parental responsibility, it would demonstrate to you what the alternative is. I notice that you are not proposing unequal shared parental responsibility, but my point is that the decisions are made by both parents and one parent is not more equal than the other in having their will accepted. When the government has clearly rejected the proposition of equal parenting time, I think it is rather fanciful to suggest that the adoption of this formulation in relation to a different issue—parental responsibility—in some way suggests that we are supportive of equal parenting time. The fact is that was rejected; it is not part of this package. The issue is substantial. That does not mean that people should not have equal parenting time if it is possible and reasonable—I know people who have negotiated on that basis—but the argument is being run on a false premise. I think the committee recommendation is perfectly appropriate for the parliament to endorse.

Question negatived.

See this speech in context