Glossary items: (these are not ads.)
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Contents - Current Issues
Citizenship Document lies about Australian Values
Property Settlement - the elephant swept under the carpet.
Citizenship Document lies about Australian Values.
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal ...". So began the US Declaration of Independence of 1776. But by today's standards this was a fraud. They didn't mean "all men". Many Americans still owned black slaves. "All men" was a euphemism for 'all non-black men'.
The draft Australian citizenship document (released August 2007) goes down the same track. This document talks of Australia values that include - respect for individual worth, freedom of association, equality under the law, equality of men and women, and equality of opportunity.
However, the reality is very different. The most important Act that deals with equality of men and women (the Sex Discrimination Act, 1984) actually excludes men. Like the Declaration of Independence, it talks about one thing but means another. The Sex Discrimination Act talks about 'sex', but this is a euphemism for 'non-males'.
Many Australian laws, State laws, codes of conduct, public policies, and operating guidelines also adopt the same prejudiced euphemisms (that 'sex' and 'gender' mean 'non-males'). Discrimination against males, because of their gender, is completely legal in Australia, and is a common experience.
Property Settlement - The elephant swept under the carpet
The Family Court's approach to property settlements is deeply flawed and anti-father. It is also unregulated, Judges can do whatever they want.
Financial settlements remain parochial, outdated and discriminatory. Men get very little. Often a father's contact with his children, and the expense of legal action, are used as extortion to extract a "generous financial settlement".
The size of the amount that will fall under the control and discretion of the divorce industry is estimated to be equivalent to:
- 4,345 times the $290 million that AWB paid to Iraqis in the oil for food scandal. AWB was investigated in the Cole Inquiry. Money belonging to farmers is important and must be handled responsibly.
- 237 times the $5.3 billion in debt left by the HIH collapse. HIH was investigated by a Royal Commission under Justice Owen. Money belonging to investors is important and must be handled responsibly.
The last Parliamentary Inquiry into family breakdown excluded property settlements. Why isn't this money important and in need of responsible handling?
The last Inquiry found problems with the way child custody and child support was being assessed. Men's complaints that they were being discriminated against were found to be true. Does anyone really think there aren't similar problems with property settlements?
Biassed methodologies and unfair property settlements continue to prevent many men from moving forward in their lives.
It's time for unfinished business. It's time for the Parliamentary Inquiry into property settlements.
Help by sending your story
You may have lodged a complaint about discrimination, or inappropriate activity, effecting a man, father or boy. Your complaint may have been mocked, ignored, or fobbed off because the rules didn't apply to males.
You may have experienced, or you know about, some of the tricks to bring about bias in property settlements.
If so, send us your story. No breaches of privacy, or inappropriate identifying details, please.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
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