Unfortunately, and no doubt in large part because of the difficulty of getting out of a marriage in the Philippines, some Filipinos take the risk of marrying again while their first spouse is still alive. A second marriage is not made valid by the subsequent termination of the first one. Thus if a person marries once in the Philippines, then marries again in Australia, then the first marriage ends because the other spouse dies or a divorce is obtained in Australia, the second marriage remains invalid and the liability to be charged with bigamy remains. This is where another difference arises between Filipino and Australian law. Any second marriage before the Court order is made is also void.
Australian law takes what seems to be the more logical approach.
If the marriage never happened, then all the Court is doing is stating it for the record. Voidable marriages can be annulled until a certain event happens or a certain time passes. After that, they are no longer open to challenge. For example, in the Philippines a person aged 18 or over but under 21 needs the consent of a parent or guardian to marry. If such a person marries without that consent, the marriage can be annulled up until the party turns 21 or for five years after that, unless after turning 21 the couple freely cohabit and live as husband and wife.