Bennett Paula: Family Courts Matters Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bennett Paula: Family Courts Matters Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 02 September 2008. Volume:649;Page:18570. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
PAULA BENNETT (National) 
: 
 I rise to speak on the Family Courts Matters Bill in the Committee stage. I will pick up on a couple of issues that have been raised by National members.  
When we think about this bill and the necessity for it the first thing that springs to mind is why any party ever launches into such a complex area that raises so many questions. We hear stories from women—and I am sure many of us know such women—who have had difficulties as far as Family Court matters paternity issues and payments for their children are concerned. We also hear the other side of the story which Judy Turner just raised and that is the issues men have as far as paternity access and payments are concerned. The reality is that there are two sides of that story and we hear compelling arguments from both sides.  
At the end of the day in what turns out to be a lose-lose situation the main losers are the children. That is why it is relatively courageous and a great thing that we discussed this issue in the Social Services Committee and we are discussing it here in the Committee stage. It is never easy; nor is it ever going to be. We are dealing with emotions and with people who are quite frankly at a crisis point and as we all know when children are involved it becomes extremely complicated.  
We need to pick up on many other issues. I really do agree with Judy Turner that currently—and this bill touches on this too—we pitch one parent against the other. Immediately we say that one parent will be the custodian and one will be the payer and that is the way it will be. It almost feels like one parent gets the child and the other has to pay for the child and that is where a lot of these issues happen.  
Part 7 talks about counselling. I think it is great to address some of the concerns about what those parents and in particular those children need. I think the best advice we could give to anyone in this situation is to keep the courts out of it wherever possible. If people can sort themselves out without getting the Government and the State involved then that is the best thing a family can do. But if a family is in a difficult situation then they need legislation such as this and parts of this bill will make a difference for such people. I think the Minister himself the Hon Rick Barker acknowledges that when families are dealing with such an emotional and stressful time no legislation will be able to fix every problem and account for every issue and situation that can arise.  
I also want to talk a little bit about where we are with DNA testing. We are in a situation where it is easily done and from what I can see all parties except for the Greens support addressing that issue. I did not have the good fortune of sitting on the Social Services Committee for this bill but I did sit on the committee about 2½ years ago when we went through issues relating to payment and the Inland Revenue Department. From what I could see Labour National ACT and United Future considered child support to be a substantial financial obligation and there needs to be discussion as to how we address the issues of DNA and paternity. It was a shame that we could not do that within the scope of the bill.  
Part 7 talks a lot about the need for counselling and what that means for the children concerned and I think that is important and necessary— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: I am sorry; the expressions on my face have nothing to do with the member’s speech. I have cramp—it is nothing to do with the member’s speech. 
PAULA BENNETT 
: I must say that you were throwing me a little Madam Chairperson. I thought I was on the wrong part; it can happen like that.  
Anyway it is great that we are debating this bill. I think there is a lot more debate left on the matter and it is a bit of a shame that we are dealing with it under urgency and at the end of a parliamentary term. Thank you.  
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: Thank you. I offer my abject apologies. We in this Chamber are human beings.  
The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 200 in the name of the Hon Rick Barker to Part 7 be agreed to. 
Amendment agreed to. 
Part 7 as amended agreed to.