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

The government opposes these amendments. Whilst the government appreciates the concerns of those supporting these amendments and we strongly believe in both parents having a meaningful involvement in their children’s lives, the government acknowledges that an equal time arrangement may not be appropriate in all circumstances. Accordingly, the government has required that a court consider in cases where the presumption of shared parental responsibility is made out whether an equal time arrangement is in the interests of the child and is reasonably practicable. If equal time is not awarded on this basis, a court must consider substantial time enabling the non-resident parent to be involved in the child’s day-to-day routine.

I would stress again, and it should be noted by the Senate, that the effect of the new provisions will be monitored on an ongoing basis. I think that people should be conscious of that. The government cannot support these amendments for these reasons and others that I outlined earlier in relation to similar arguments.

Question negatived.