Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2008C00441:clause:1_61da
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2008C00441
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 1 cl 61DA
Character Range: 34925–36319

61DA  Presumption of equal shared parental responsibility when making parenting orders

 (1) When making a parenting order in relation to a child, the court must apply a presumption that it is in the best interests of the child for the child's parents to have equal shared parental responsibility for the child.

Note: The presumption provided for in this subsection is a presumption that relates solely to the allocation of parental responsibility for a child as defined in section 61B. It does not provide for a presumption about the amount of time the child spends with each of the parents (this issue is dealt with in section 65DAA).

 (2) The presumption does not apply if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a parent of the child (or a person who lives with a parent of the child) has engaged in:
 (a) abuse of the child or another child who, at the time, was a member of the parent's family (or that other person's family); or
 (b) family violence.

 (3) When the court is making an interim order, the presumption applies unless the court considers that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances for the presumption to be applied when making that order.

 (4) The presumption may be rebutted by evidence that satisfies the court that it would not be in the best interests of the child for the child's parents to have equal shared parental responsibility for the child.