Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

The government will be opposing this amendment. But it is important to note during this committee stage that the government will expend $397 million on family relationship centres and contact centres, which are aimed at backing up the legislation, which will contain provisions such as the one which the Democrats oppose—that is, the question of parental relationships with children. It is all very well to say that parental responsibilities and the parents’ relationship with the child are factors which should be considered, but you have to back that up. We will do that with contact centres and family relationship centres. In many cases, there are people who, with some guidance and assistance, could well improve their parenting skills and roles, and we could increase the relationship between the parent and child as well as that between the parties themselves. I just put that on the record.

Question negatived.