Singlemum an apparently new user on Familylawebguide joined and participated in the forums only to be blasted by the dumbest of the dumb, Mike Taylor, Peter Saxon akak Conan and the stalwart a**hole Michael Green aka Agog/Sisyphus.
MikeT was the first flunky sent in to attack her point of view which was against deadbeat dads and fathers and grandparents whose only involvement in a childs life was abusive. MikeT posted his usual cut and paste from the CSA website and spouted off his usual pompous gibberish. Trouble is Mike we've read your blog and Tricia's comments about your son so we don't understand your high horse attitude. Maybe a move back to England might be in order because we don't like whinging Poms here.
(Google Trish's name if you want to find her blogs.)
Didn't the Familylawwebguide obtain their funding by claiming to be a "Family" resource and the websites own front page says it is for all parents. Why was Singlemum attacked and threatened with a banning because her views don't conform to your misogynistic ones? You just proved the site is only man friendly and proved that you obtained your Government funding by deception and fraud. The current investigation will force you to pay it back to the Commonwealth.
Showing posts with label familylawwebguide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label familylawwebguide. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Simon Hunt Again Publishes his daughters details
Simon Hunt posts intimate details of his daughter including identifying information on Familylawwebguide.com.au:
He had already previously posted her address and name contained in the DVO and went to Laurie Nowell at the Sun Herald with his bogus story which was printed in the newspapers. Simon Hunt also identified himself via the comments section of that same article affording his daughter even more shame. This is a classic example of how this man puts himself first constantly and he blames the courts for banning him from being around her? The courts were right in making the decision that he cannot see her until she is an adult..this man does not deserve the title of father!!
The familylawwebguide and the the Shared Parenting Counil by allowing these types of posts are condoning further child abuse.
He had already previously posted her address and name contained in the DVO and went to Laurie Nowell at the Sun Herald with his bogus story which was printed in the newspapers. Simon Hunt also identified himself via the comments section of that same article affording his daughter even more shame. This is a classic example of how this man puts himself first constantly and he blames the courts for banning him from being around her? The courts were right in making the decision that he cannot see her until she is an adult..this man does not deserve the title of father!!
The familylawwebguide and the the Shared Parenting Counil by allowing these types of posts are condoning further child abuse.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Another Deadbeat client of Familylawwebguide
Dazza a new violent male member of FamilyLawwebguide is whining about an AVO on Familylawwebguide (his post was edited to make it look like he had half a brain and not the usual deadbeat that site attracts but the unedited post reveals that he is in fact the same old deadbeat):
And yet here on Dads On The Air he admits to making threats:
| General Member  | I am going to contest the AVO in court but mediation will happen before that time. There is no issue about abuse of the children, just fighting in front of the children, verbal abuse and the such. But that was directed between my partner and myself. So anyone who has any idea how the mediator will convene this, will it be held against me as a father? As my partner and I have separated, there shouldnt be an issue of domestic violence of any sort. I have always been a good and loving father who has always provided for my family, taken them to school, picked them up, cooked most of the meals, doing the things that a father does. I believe that my partner will try to stop access. With me only wanting what is fair, what is likly to happen? | |
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| General Member | I have also tried on many occasions to attempt to re-concil with my partner, but have been in vain. I wont say our relationship was a bed of roses latly, as we had been under alot of stress from buisness and her mothers constant interferring in our relationship, and the fact that I had given up smokeing late last year, but as I had never stuck her, only had verbal disagrements, with me haveing the loudest voice. She has claimed physical abuse such as I struck her twice in the upper right thigh with my fist(as the most recant) I never did this but am afraid as she has a iron defenancy wich leads her to bruise very easily. There are also claims that I threatent to kill her in front of our children, I know it dosnt sound good, but I never did such a thing, I love her very much as I do with the kids. I have come to grips that she dosnt want anything to do with me anymore(breaks my heart) but I have to deal with it. I will do whatever I have to to be close to my children as I always have, but am afraid that she will block me at every possible opppertunity. I am going to the mediation today so I will post the results this afternoon, but I am not hopeful of a good outcome, but hope and pray otherwise(I am a active member of a church) This is very distressing especaly in the fact that I havent seen my children since the morning of the 21/5/2009... Thank you for your response, as I hadnt had any from other sites like ''dads on the air'' Thanks guys...cheers Dazza | |
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And yet here on Dads On The Air he admits to making threats:
Saturday, July 18, 2009
This is Hysterical!!!
See Conan/Peter Saxon/aka small man cut down to size!!!! It seems Isy has summed you up Conan in a very brief period and many people share his view not only of you but of the whole www.familylawwebguide site. And your traffic figure is another thing you lie about...we have seen Wayne and Michael Green brag about figures of 1,000,000 hits a month when the actual figure (easily accessed via the net and various sources) are only 1,500 hits per day which is not even 100,000 per month. We figure you have to justify the spending of Australian Government money somehow and none of you can tell the truth. Which brings us to another issue, we believe that the funding you did obtain was gained through dishonesty and we intend to follow this through. We believe you should be made to pay back the funds you have misapropriated from the Australian people and it is our mission to ensure that you do.
As snarly as you have lost ground now that they are winding back the changes to Family Law, you sure will be a lot grumpier then.
As snarly as you have lost ground now that they are winding back the changes to Family Law, you sure will be a lot grumpier then.
| Bronze Member  | | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 06:14 PM | ||
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 Silver Member  | What a daft thing to say, how on Earth can you make such an absurd comment? Perhaps balanced posts are not your thing? Have you ever been to an FLRA meeting? Another preposterous statement! The self rep area can be joined, they have private areas to protect the posters, surely you managed to read that? I would like to know if you ever took the SRL-R Quiz and the result because that would show us just how much you really don't know! I think the real reason is that you have come onto this site dispensing outmoded concepts, soap boxing (10,000 matters) and realize that many people are far more knowledgeable than yourself. I notice one of the moderators caught you out making a guest post which is a sure sign of a lurker. | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 06:24 PM | ||
| Bronze Member | | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 06:39 PM | ||
| Silver Member | Perhaps because I cannot bear idiots lightly? Only a bit rude? I must be having an off week.
Then where are these marvelous other sites PLEASE! I visit a few sites and when factual questions are asked people are invariably referred to this site. As I understand the traffic to this site absolutely dwarfs all the other sites. PS You did not respond to my statements about the FLRA, why some of the self rep areas are private and any of your Quiz results! | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 06:51 PM | ||
| Bronze Member | | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 07:42 PM | ||
| Silver Member |
That remark really says a lot about you. From some of your previous posts you are a legend in your mind. Your opinions about Family Law seem as ill founded as some of you ill researched other opinions. Is it possible that you could just answer rather than avoid: Why your comments about the FLRA Where are these marvelous other sites? Why don't you understand that the self reps have private areas to protect their posters Why lurk as a guest | |
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| Posted Yesterday, 07:56 PM | ||
| Bronze Member | | |
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Obama pays Tribute to Some Fathers
Monaro, Barack Obama wasn't referring to you and your cronies in the fathers rights industry when he was paying tribute to fathers. He specifically referred to "loving and caring fathers who are strengthening their families and country."
There is nothing loving or caring about avoiding or minimising the payment of child support, there is nothing loving or caring about discussing your children and your children's mothers on public forums and denigrating those people, there is nothing loving nor caring about advising other fathers on how to avoid paying child support, there is nothing loving nor caring about calling all accusations of child sexual abuse by fathers false. If you genuinely cared about your children more than yourself, you would join the fight to ensure they had a loving relationship with both parents and and you would ensure that your children were adeqautely cared for both physically and mentally. You are not seeking to strengthen any family, only tear it down in the interest of self.
A PROCLAMATION FOR FATHER'S DAY, 2009, By President Barack Obama
The journey of fatherhood provides unique and lasting joys. Cradling a baby in his arms, a father experiences the miracle of life and an unbreakable bond. Fathers imagine a world of possibilities awaiting their children and contemplate the privilege of helping them reach that expanse of opportunity.As kids grow and mature, they look to their dad for a special kind of love and support. Providing these necessities can bring great happiness.
Fatherhood also brings great responsibilities. Fathers have an obligation to help rear the children they bring into the world. Children deserve this care, and families need each father's active participation.
Fathers must help teach right from wrong and instill in their kids the values that sustain them for a lifetime.
As they encounter new and challenging experiences, children need guidance and counsel. Fathers need to talk with their kids to help them through difficult times. Parents must also help their children make the right choices by serving as strong role models. Honest and hard-working fathers are an irreplaceable influence upon their children.
Communities must do more to counsel fathers. Family and friends, and faith-based and community organizations, can speak directly with men about the sacrifices and rewards of having a child. These groups can support men as they take on the great challenges of child-rearing.
Through honest and open dialogue, more men can choose to become model parents and know the wonders of fatherhood.
On Father's Day, we pay tribute to the loving and caring fathers who are strengthening their families and country.
We also honor those surrogate fathers who raise, mentor, or care for someone else's child. Thousands of young children benefit from the influence of great men, and we salute their willingness to give and continue giving.
We also express special gratitude to fathers who serve in the United States Armed Forces for the sacrifices they and their families make every day.
All of these individuals are making great contributions, and children across the country are better off for their care.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 21, 2009, as Father's Day.
I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day. I urge all Americans to express their love, respect, and admiration to their fathers, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Proof they're all one and the same.....
Results for IP 203.80.163.58
- http://familylawreform.org.au/
- http://familylawwebguide.com.au/
- http://fathers4equality.com/
- http://spca.org.au/
- http://www.familylawreform.org.au/
- http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/
- http://www.spca.org.au/
End of list.http://www.sitedossier.com/ip/203.80.163.58
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Soccerdad your typical Fathers Rights Bully
Soccerdad had this to say on familylawwebguide hoping for some advice from other bullying fathers looking to enforce what they want on their children:
Posted 25 May, 2009, 06:03 PM
#24704
soccerdad
General Member
In short my matter was adjourned for three weeks in the FMC as the respondent mother didn't submit her response and the FM thought I was wasting his time (IMHO). In short,the child lived with me for nine months to January. The child turns fifteen in June. The child didn't return form Xmas holidays as planned and contact since has been non existent. The mother has refused to enter into mediation (even though she started the process). I'm not sure how the next Mention will go. I felt I wasn't really given any opportunity to speak, however, I did know that I couldn't give evidence from the bar table. The FM wants to hear from the child but I don't know how or whenthat will happen or whether I'll get a copy of what the child has written. I'm questioning myself whether I wrote enough in the affidavit, bagged out the respondent too much in the affidavit or whether I should have referred to the FLA within the affidavit to state my position.In all honesty, I dont think the FM really read my material.I've got three weeks to prepare (again). As the child will be 15, I know I'm on a hiding to nothing. However, I think it's in the best interest of the child that a male role model should guide him through adolescent life, even if it only is part time. Any tipsfor the next Mention would be appreciated.Kind regards,Soccerdad
Then he added this a couple of days later:
soccerdad
General Member
The point being that the other parent encourages and facilitates contact, which is not happening and I know the reason why (it's all about the cash). That aside, Section 60CC is not being adhered to by the other parent and that's what I'm holding my argument on...Best interest of the child and facilitate contact with the other parent. If the FM goes for this, at least I have a bit of a moral victory whether the child co-operates or not. I'm not a Disney dad, far from it. There are rules in my house, no rules in hers. When he lived with me, he obeyed. If I was to pick a charater to decsribe me as a dad, it would be the Hulk..."Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." I'm a marshmallow otherwise.
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3998/index.php&start=0#first_unread
Yeah that's right Soccerdad take your ex to court and involve your child in the stressful process to prove a point because as you admit..it is all about the money isn't it?
And you wonder why your kid hates you Soccerdad!
Posted 25 May, 2009, 06:03 PM
#24704
soccerdad
General Member
In short my matter was adjourned for three weeks in the FMC as the respondent mother didn't submit her response and the FM thought I was wasting his time (IMHO). In short,the child lived with me for nine months to January. The child turns fifteen in June. The child didn't return form Xmas holidays as planned and contact since has been non existent. The mother has refused to enter into mediation (even though she started the process). I'm not sure how the next Mention will go. I felt I wasn't really given any opportunity to speak, however, I did know that I couldn't give evidence from the bar table. The FM wants to hear from the child but I don't know how or whenthat will happen or whether I'll get a copy of what the child has written. I'm questioning myself whether I wrote enough in the affidavit, bagged out the respondent too much in the affidavit or whether I should have referred to the FLA within the affidavit to state my position.In all honesty, I dont think the FM really read my material.I've got three weeks to prepare (again). As the child will be 15, I know I'm on a hiding to nothing. However, I think it's in the best interest of the child that a male role model should guide him through adolescent life, even if it only is part time. Any tipsfor the next Mention would be appreciated.Kind regards,Soccerdad
Then he added this a couple of days later:
soccerdad
General Member
The point being that the other parent encourages and facilitates contact, which is not happening and I know the reason why (it's all about the cash). That aside, Section 60CC is not being adhered to by the other parent and that's what I'm holding my argument on...Best interest of the child and facilitate contact with the other parent. If the FM goes for this, at least I have a bit of a moral victory whether the child co-operates or not. I'm not a Disney dad, far from it. There are rules in my house, no rules in hers. When he lived with me, he obeyed. If I was to pick a charater to decsribe me as a dad, it would be the Hulk..."Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." I'm a marshmallow otherwise.
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3998/index.php&start=0#first_unread
Yeah that's right Soccerdad take your ex to court and involve your child in the stressful process to prove a point because as you admit..it is all about the money isn't it?
And you wonder why your kid hates you Soccerdad!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, WARNING
FAMILYLAWWEBGUIDE WANT YOU TO JOIN THE SRL CLUB BECAUSE THEY WANT YOUR DETAILS. THEY WILL PUSH YOU AND TRY TO FORCE YOU INTO JOINING AND WILL REFUSE TO POST A REPLY TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION UNTIL YOU JOIN. ASK YOURSELF WHY...ASK YOURSELF WHY DO I HAVE TO GIVE MY REAL NAME, PHONE NUMBERS TO BE VERIFIED WITH A PHONE CALL AND DETAILS OF MY CASE TO TOTAL STRANGERS WHO HAVE NO QUALIFICATIONS WHATSOEVER AND VERY LITTLE, IF ANY SUCCESS IN COURT ACTIONS. WARNING BELLS SHOULD BE RINGING IN YOUR HEAD.
HEED THE WARNINGS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DO NOT JOIN THE SRL WHATEVER YOU DO. THEY ONLY WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY QUALIFICATIONS IN LAW, ONLY THEIR OWN UNSUCCESSFUL COURT ACTION AND THEY WILL PASS ON YOUR DETAILS AS THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHER MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
HEED THE WARNINGS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DO NOT JOIN THE SRL WHATEVER YOU DO. THEY ONLY WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY QUALIFICATIONS IN LAW, ONLY THEIR OWN UNSUCCESSFUL COURT ACTION AND THEY WILL PASS ON YOUR DETAILS AS THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHER MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Looking at the ROOTS of Fathers Rights Groups.
This is an archived page from Familylawwebguide that shows who belongs to who in the so called "Portal" when you can see that it is the same members that are a part of every group, despite trying to maintain that they are all independent.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070902131551/www.familylawwebguide.com.au/site/index.php?page=groups&type=misc
If you click on each group it will give you a list of the members of that group. For instance the Community Group CRC kids that they steadfastly maintain has NOTHING to do with Shared Parenting Council has as it's list of members:
Head
Director (this is Ed Dabrowski also SPCA)
Secondary
Secretary_SPCA This is Wayne Butler also SPCA, DOTA, SRL etc
meep This is Paul Mee
Director This is Ed Dabrowski also SPCA
oneadadc This is Graeme Campbell also SPCA, SRL
dad4life This is Lindsay Jackel, also SPCA, DOTA, SRL etc
lfapolad This is Jim Carter also SPCA also Lone Fathers also SRL etc
And if you go through and have a look at all the different groups you will see the same old names. SPCA, CRC, Family Law Reform, DOTA , DIDS they're all the same people in bed with each other. The same guys that have been pitching the same old fathers rights crap for years and still not getting anywhere. They have NO CREDIBILITY and that is why they have to keep changing faces and hiding their identities because without deceit they are nothing but old bitter and twisted guys who never got over their wives leaving them.
Anyone wanting to know who a user name is just contact us but we are publishing a list shortly so keep watching this space.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070902131551/www.familylawwebguide.com.au/site/index.php?page=groups&type=misc
If you click on each group it will give you a list of the members of that group. For instance the Community Group CRC kids that they steadfastly maintain has NOTHING to do with Shared Parenting Council has as it's list of members:
Head
Director (this is Ed Dabrowski also SPCA)
Secondary
Secretary_SPCA This is Wayne Butler also SPCA, DOTA, SRL etc
meep This is Paul Mee
Director This is Ed Dabrowski also SPCA
oneadadc This is Graeme Campbell also SPCA, SRL
dad4life This is Lindsay Jackel, also SPCA, DOTA, SRL etc
lfapolad This is Jim Carter also SPCA also Lone Fathers also SRL etc
And if you go through and have a look at all the different groups you will see the same old names. SPCA, CRC, Family Law Reform, DOTA , DIDS they're all the same people in bed with each other. The same guys that have been pitching the same old fathers rights crap for years and still not getting anywhere. They have NO CREDIBILITY and that is why they have to keep changing faces and hiding their identities because without deceit they are nothing but old bitter and twisted guys who never got over their wives leaving them.
Anyone wanting to know who a user name is just contact us but we are publishing a list shortly so keep watching this space.
Monday, April 6, 2009
More Deceit by FLWG, here we name the SRL main players
The site is not a portal for various communities, CRC, SRL, DOTA, DIDS, LFAA, Mothers4Equality are all the same people.
The SRL's treat themselves like the elite of Familylawwebguide. Do you want to know who the main players are? We are sure you all do so here they are:
Who Are The Main PLayers in SRL?
SRL Resources
Head
Michael Green (Agog, Sisyphus)
Primary Members
Paul Saurine (Thad50) Also DIDS
Peter Saxon (Clown, Viking, Conan, Getherealfacts, Sneakydevil) Also DIDS, SPCA, F4E
TheDOCtor
Secondary Members
David Glenmere
Micke Michalek (Monteverdi)
Ian Tuit (Ian Tuit)
Wayne Butler (Oneringrules, Sec SPCA) also DOTA, CRC. SPCA
Jim Carter (lfapolad) also LFAA, SPCA, CRC
Lindsay Jackel (Matrix, Dad4life) also DOTA, SPCA, CRC
Graeme Campbell (oneadadc)
Coral Slattery (Nemos Mum) also SPCA
The SRL's treat themselves like the elite of Familylawwebguide. Do you want to know who the main players are? We are sure you all do so here they are:
Who Are The Main PLayers in SRL?
SRL Resources
Head
Michael Green (Agog, Sisyphus)
Primary Members
Paul Saurine (Thad50) Also DIDS
Peter Saxon (Clown, Viking, Conan, Getherealfacts, Sneakydevil) Also DIDS, SPCA, F4E
TheDOCtor
Secondary Members
David Glenmere
Micke Michalek (Monteverdi)
Ian Tuit (Ian Tuit)
Wayne Butler (Oneringrules, Sec SPCA) also DOTA, CRC. SPCA
Jim Carter (lfapolad) also LFAA, SPCA, CRC
Lindsay Jackel (Matrix, Dad4life) also DOTA, SPCA, CRC
Graeme Campbell (oneadadc)
Coral Slattery (Nemos Mum) also SPCA
It is very concerning to see Michael Green head up the Self Represented Litigants Club because he is not allowed to practise law without a current certificate which he doesn't have (easy to check this one) so therefore he is breaking the law.
It has been said by various people who have vigourously tried to deny that the SRL are a part of the Shared Parenting Council and were set up long before familylawwebguide was set up but this list available from an online cached version of the site clearly says that the SRL main players are ONLY members of SPCA. There is only one group controlling the lot and that is SPCA. All of the names are of militant mens rights campaigners and not one of these people are aligned with mothers, women or families. They fight for mens rights. Peter Saxon you are a liar. Anyone be very wary about giving your details to any of the SRL, we have evidence where they used that information inapropriately and the matter is currently under investigation. You have been warned.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
FLWG sure is attracting some Wicked Stepmothers
Tex1 posted yesterday to the familylawwebguide forums:
"Hi - I am new to these forums. A quick introduction: I am the fiance to a Dad desperately trying to gain equal shared care of his 3 children aged 5, 7 & 8. The consent orders up until the end of 2008 were every second weekend and half of school holidays as well as additional times agreed upon by both parents (signed in Feb. 2006). The children's mother usually 'allowed' us to have care of the children based on her schedule as long as she was seen as the residential parent - it was all rather flexible and we got to spend lots of time with the children which was great. Come July 2008, their mother decides to tighten the screws and limit us to basically every second weekend and half of school holidays - unless it purely suit her and even then she wanted to 'swap' with one of our weekends or their would be unrest.
Currently, the interim order is every second weekend and half of school holidays - the skids are very upset by this. This was brought about because my fiance kept them after they made serious disclosures which we needed to have investigated before we felt confident the children were safe. There wasn't any malice meant by it, just protection of the children. This now also has to be proven in the court to avoid a contravention. We are confident it will be dismissed due to the nature of the disclosures.
Back to topic.. we have an upcoming Family Court date and we are seeking 50/50 equal shared care. We have had approx. 35% for the past 3yrs (however we've only been able to get the mother to admit this from Sept. 2008 - we have calendars from before that though). The travel distance from our home to the chidlren's school (they are all at school as of this year) is 40mins (according to whereis.com). The mother lives about 2mins drive away from the children's school. My fiance's ex-wife is stating this would be detrimental to every aspect of their lives if this was to occur - due to the distance. We have family support to assist with transportation of the children to and from school whenever they need it. So if we had an arrangement week with mother/week with father then we would be able to easily manage. She refuses to accept our transport arrangements unless it is the father only doing the driving - and, as he works shifts, this would never be reasonably possible. We used to live nearly 2hrs away and the children used to pick them up and take them back at least once a fortnight. We moved 40mins away to see the children more - I travelled 90mins to work each day to enable this. We feel the tightening of the screws happened when the CSA acknowledged we actually had the children overnight (which was always the case but never admitted by the mother).
The children are very used to travelling - since they were 2, 3 & 4 - travelling an hour o spend time with their Dad. We have proof but the mother is swearing that this was never the case. I have financial statements/photographs/ticket stubs/holiday tickets, etc. that could easily prove they were with us at different points. Can these be used?
So my big questions are these:
* Will the court see the 40mins travel for 5, 6 & 8 y.o children as reasonable?
* Can the mother, without any reason or danger to the children, disallow the children to be dropped off/picked up by a close, safe, responsible and familiar relative?
* What documents can we provide to the courts to support our case? And when? And how? (We have a solicitor but we have already thrown a lot of money away on him due to aspects of our case that we already knew about or could have quite easily found out - we still don't have the confidence to self-represent though).
Please help - we are desperate. We know things won't be settled out of court - we have desperately tried and tried. We want to be prepared in every way.
Please respond. We need urgent advice. "
Now that all sounds good (if you ignore the fact that they reported the mother but not out of malice mind you), except if you read the real story that Tex1 was so kind as to provide details on various step parenting forums on the net.
Some quotes from Tex1:
"Thanks - anything to get rid of BM. She is disgusting and we truly believe she has a psychological disorder."
"BF and I have attended 2 meetings with BM and her partner in the last fortnight to try to settle out of court. Before that we have had several meetings with solicitors to try for mediation. No luck - she treated me terribly because I called DoCS (with BF) about disclosures made by the skids. It is all very hard - and, yes, I still believe she has played a big part in happenings of an inappropriate nature - even if she wasn't hands on (which we may never know as she and the children were briefly interviewed). DoCS let the skids down and now we are temporarily worse off than ever before."
"BM is trying to bribe BF into meeting with her (and sometimes the skids) once a month before she will agree out-of-court to 50/50 custody. We don't want to do this but then we don't want to lose the chance of an agreement of care being reached. We think she is bluffing and will sign off anyway - but 3 little kids depend on that bluff! She said the skids need to see their Mum and Dad happy and together, and that they 'need' family meetings."
BM said she is concerned about the travel because it will be hard on us (BF and I) financially."
"No - she wants unrestricted acces to BF all of the time. She wants to call him about non-urgent issues when an email will suffice.
BF is happy to 'fake' pleasantness to BM at changeover, on the phone, etc. It has been happening the whole time. "
"He did this as the children made disclosures to us and DoCS of a serious nature, mentioning bm directly. Bm was barely investigated and talked her way out of it with no consequences - I won't mention here but it would make you ill if you knew. So, DH kept the skids with us until we could take what we still believe were protective measures.
We were stressed and unprepared when she took us to court - and she had every piece of paperwork possible to let the courts know she was 'mother-of the year' material. We looked stupid"
"We are even considering applying for greater than 50% custody of the skids as bm is damaging the skids relationship with DH. "
"meanwhile she has used me to babysit a zillion times"
:BM is constantly emailing us about how much the SD5 and SS7 have difficulties with me"
"My SS8 has been depressed for sometime now."
"I am due to marry BF in about 5 months yet we continue to battle against each other about BM's controlling ways."
"BM used to interfere with our lives here however we have made it quite clear we don't want anything from her in our house. She is dirty and manipulative. I organise the skids to have something for BF and BF organises them when it is my birthday.... no more intereferance from BM - we despise her. "
"he knows he can't do 50/50 without me as he is a shift worker and I am teacher so I am around more and take care of skids a lot by myself. Doesn't seem to stop him from being inconsiderate. When I say that it is outrageous that he would speak to me like he does at times he says things like "Here we go - the martyr" or "You knew what you were getting into when we met"... he's even called me jealous and selfish (since taken back but still damaging)."
"BM is sick - selfish and has caused much much more distress than ever had to occur from a divorce. She has played the skids against their father, etc. She is disgusting."
"She wants constant communication - we want NONE. She is a freak and we're embarrassed to be seen anywhere with her. She is always dirty and underdressed or dressed in rags.... and I am not saying that to be spiteful.... she chooses it to be "alternate". She's also had some abusive episodes.... too touchy feely with BF and sometimes even me! YUK! I'm developing OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) because of her (constantly washing my hands!)."
"Tough love is a must at times, otherwise it will be set up for huge even more dramatic problems in the teen years! Nip it in the bud asap, in my opinion."
The mother is obviously trying to talk to your fiance and work things out with the kids and has offered 50/50 parenting and wants change overs to be friendly but it is YOU that has the problems. You called DOCS on her. Your NSW policeman fiance needs to man up and tell you to back off. You don't care about the kids at all, you just care about yourself and your own petty jealousies. Get over it. Maybe you and Leeahn can form a close and loving liason and bitch about the stepchildren constantly when you're not being a schoolteacher.
Maybe Tex1 the problem lies with you and your jealousy and spiteful nature. You are a bully. Maybe you need a bit of your own"tough love" to show you what for? In the words of Pink Floyd, leave those kids alone!!!
A note to familylawwebguide.com.au, the women that you are attracting are not helping your cause at all. Leeahn, Tex1 et al really are spiteful witches intent on hurting children and taking mothers to court purely to fuel a hate war. These stepmothers are posting utter bullshit to the mens forums and not telling the truth and that surely can't be good for the Mens Movement can it?
General Member
Currently, the interim order is every second weekend and half of school holidays - the skids are very upset by this. This was brought about because my fiance kept them after they made serious disclosures which we needed to have investigated before we felt confident the children were safe. There wasn't any malice meant by it, just protection of the children. This now also has to be proven in the court to avoid a contravention. We are confident it will be dismissed due to the nature of the disclosures.
Back to topic.. we have an upcoming Family Court date and we are seeking 50/50 equal shared care. We have had approx. 35% for the past 3yrs (however we've only been able to get the mother to admit this from Sept. 2008 - we have calendars from before that though). The travel distance from our home to the chidlren's school (they are all at school as of this year) is 40mins (according to whereis.com). The mother lives about 2mins drive away from the children's school. My fiance's ex-wife is stating this would be detrimental to every aspect of their lives if this was to occur - due to the distance. We have family support to assist with transportation of the children to and from school whenever they need it. So if we had an arrangement week with mother/week with father then we would be able to easily manage. She refuses to accept our transport arrangements unless it is the father only doing the driving - and, as he works shifts, this would never be reasonably possible. We used to live nearly 2hrs away and the children used to pick them up and take them back at least once a fortnight. We moved 40mins away to see the children more - I travelled 90mins to work each day to enable this. We feel the tightening of the screws happened when the CSA acknowledged we actually had the children overnight (which was always the case but never admitted by the mother).
The children are very used to travelling - since they were 2, 3 & 4 - travelling an hour o spend time with their Dad. We have proof but the mother is swearing that this was never the case. I have financial statements/photographs/ticket stubs/holiday tickets, etc. that could easily prove they were with us at different points. Can these be used?
So my big questions are these:
* Will the court see the 40mins travel for 5, 6 & 8 y.o children as reasonable?
* Can the mother, without any reason or danger to the children, disallow the children to be dropped off/picked up by a close, safe, responsible and familiar relative?
* What documents can we provide to the courts to support our case? And when? And how? (We have a solicitor but we have already thrown a lot of money away on him due to aspects of our case that we already knew about or could have quite easily found out - we still don't have the confidence to self-represent though).
Please help - we are desperate. We know things won't be settled out of court - we have desperately tried and tried. We want to be prepared in every way.
Please respond. We need urgent advice. "
Now that all sounds good (if you ignore the fact that they reported the mother but not out of malice mind you), except if you read the real story that Tex1 was so kind as to provide details on various step parenting forums on the net.
Some quotes from Tex1:
"Thanks - anything to get rid of BM. She is disgusting and we truly believe she has a psychological disorder."
"BF and I have attended 2 meetings with BM and her partner in the last fortnight to try to settle out of court. Before that we have had several meetings with solicitors to try for mediation. No luck - she treated me terribly because I called DoCS (with BF) about disclosures made by the skids. It is all very hard - and, yes, I still believe she has played a big part in happenings of an inappropriate nature - even if she wasn't hands on (which we may never know as she and the children were briefly interviewed). DoCS let the skids down and now we are temporarily worse off than ever before."
"BM is trying to bribe BF into meeting with her (and sometimes the skids) once a month before she will agree out-of-court to 50/50 custody. We don't want to do this but then we don't want to lose the chance of an agreement of care being reached. We think she is bluffing and will sign off anyway - but 3 little kids depend on that bluff! She said the skids need to see their Mum and Dad happy and together, and that they 'need' family meetings."
BM said she is concerned about the travel because it will be hard on us (BF and I) financially."
"No - she wants unrestricted acces to BF all of the time. She wants to call him about non-urgent issues when an email will suffice.
BF is happy to 'fake' pleasantness to BM at changeover, on the phone, etc. It has been happening the whole time. "
"He did this as the children made disclosures to us and DoCS of a serious nature, mentioning bm directly. Bm was barely investigated and talked her way out of it with no consequences - I won't mention here but it would make you ill if you knew. So, DH kept the skids with us until we could take what we still believe were protective measures.
We were stressed and unprepared when she took us to court - and she had every piece of paperwork possible to let the courts know she was 'mother-of the year' material. We looked stupid"
"We are even considering applying for greater than 50% custody of the skids as bm is damaging the skids relationship with DH. "
"meanwhile she has used me to babysit a zillion times"
:BM is constantly emailing us about how much the SD5 and SS7 have difficulties with me"
"My SS8 has been depressed for sometime now."
"I am due to marry BF in about 5 months yet we continue to battle against each other about BM's controlling ways."
"BM used to interfere with our lives here however we have made it quite clear we don't want anything from her in our house. She is dirty and manipulative. I organise the skids to have something for BF and BF organises them when it is my birthday.... no more intereferance from BM - we despise her. "
"he knows he can't do 50/50 without me as he is a shift worker and I am teacher so I am around more and take care of skids a lot by myself. Doesn't seem to stop him from being inconsiderate. When I say that it is outrageous that he would speak to me like he does at times he says things like "Here we go - the martyr" or "You knew what you were getting into when we met"... he's even called me jealous and selfish (since taken back but still damaging)."
"BM is sick - selfish and has caused much much more distress than ever had to occur from a divorce. She has played the skids against their father, etc. She is disgusting."
"She wants constant communication - we want NONE. She is a freak and we're embarrassed to be seen anywhere with her. She is always dirty and underdressed or dressed in rags.... and I am not saying that to be spiteful.... she chooses it to be "alternate". She's also had some abusive episodes.... too touchy feely with BF and sometimes even me! YUK! I'm developing OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) because of her (constantly washing my hands!)."
"Tough love is a must at times, otherwise it will be set up for huge even more dramatic problems in the teen years! Nip it in the bud asap, in my opinion."
The mother is obviously trying to talk to your fiance and work things out with the kids and has offered 50/50 parenting and wants change overs to be friendly but it is YOU that has the problems. You called DOCS on her. Your NSW policeman fiance needs to man up and tell you to back off. You don't care about the kids at all, you just care about yourself and your own petty jealousies. Get over it. Maybe you and Leeahn can form a close and loving liason and bitch about the stepchildren constantly when you're not being a schoolteacher.
Maybe Tex1 the problem lies with you and your jealousy and spiteful nature. You are a bully. Maybe you need a bit of your own"tough love" to show you what for? In the words of Pink Floyd, leave those kids alone!!!
A note to familylawwebguide.com.au, the women that you are attracting are not helping your cause at all. Leeahn, Tex1 et al really are spiteful witches intent on hurting children and taking mothers to court purely to fuel a hate war. These stepmothers are posting utter bullshit to the mens forums and not telling the truth and that surely can't be good for the Mens Movement can it?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thank you Anonymums for the Logo
We agree it is more apropriate and tells the truth about the Shared parenting Council of Australia's agenda against mothers and children.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wayne Butler/Oneringrules/Secretary SPCA Sexual Abuse
Wayne Butler/SecSPCA/Oneringrules is real touchy about accusations of sexual abuse on children and unfortunately assumes ALL accusations are false because that was the defence he used when accused of sexually molesting his son.
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3667/index.php&start=0#first_unread
PS Editing all contributor posts raises the question of exactly what is it that you are editing Wayne?
Isn't that censorship?
It's really hard to drop the Mens Rights agenda sometimes and keep up the facade that it is a "FAMILY" oriented site isn't it?
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3667/index.php&start=0#first_unread
PS Editing all contributor posts raises the question of exactly what is it that you are editing Wayne?
Isn't that censorship?
It's really hard to drop the Mens Rights agenda sometimes and keep up the facade that it is a "FAMILY" oriented site isn't it?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Familylawwebguide hates MOTHERS!!!
Now that you've lost the funding why don't you all drop the facade? You don't have to pretend that you're a "Family" website anymore or are you all afraid that you will have to REPAY the funding due to the fraudulent applications and desperately trying to maintain that you are for fathers AND mothers when everybody knows that was garbage?
For every mother that posts for advice or help on that site (www.familylawwebguide.com.au which is a front for Mens Rights group Shared Parenting Council of Australia) there is only derision or blame. Every woman on there that isn't a stepmother is treated with disdain and AGOG (Michael Green ex QC and current woman hating mediator), OneRingRules (secretary of SPCA and has been accused of child sexual abuse so he hates all women as well) and then MikeT (alias the patronising and blind Mike Taylor) are the key players followed up by D4E (aka Padwithwings) with his whining "well it's your job to encourage the child to go to the abusers" attitude. D4Life aka extremely bitter and twisted Lindsay jackel because his wife left him for a lesbian follows in the rear with his nasty attitude. Conan,who is Peter Saxon has a particularly nasty attitude (and we all know what's in his past to make him like that!) is a poster that is sent in to go for the mother's jugular why they all stand around laughing.
Have you all not got the point by now, you can't INSIST that everyone who comes to the site has to read the entire thing. You obviously think your bullying can carry over into the cyber realm and have no comprehension of what is expected of a forum. The patronising "well you obviously haven't read through the site before you posted" garbage posted by Michael Green is extremely tedious and can only be construed as bullying. You have been accused numerous times of being arrogant and rude, maybe it's time to heed the warnings. You assume responsibility for the site in the guise of AGOG and SISYPHUS then you must also assume responsibility for how members are treated and should be ashamed of yourself.
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3603/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3589/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3612/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#post_22871
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/1876/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
For every mother that posts for advice or help on that site (www.familylawwebguide.com.au which is a front for Mens Rights group Shared Parenting Council of Australia) there is only derision or blame. Every woman on there that isn't a stepmother is treated with disdain and AGOG (Michael Green ex QC and current woman hating mediator), OneRingRules (secretary of SPCA and has been accused of child sexual abuse so he hates all women as well) and then MikeT (alias the patronising and blind Mike Taylor) are the key players followed up by D4E (aka Padwithwings) with his whining "well it's your job to encourage the child to go to the abusers" attitude. D4Life aka extremely bitter and twisted Lindsay jackel because his wife left him for a lesbian follows in the rear with his nasty attitude. Conan,who is Peter Saxon has a particularly nasty attitude (and we all know what's in his past to make him like that!) is a poster that is sent in to go for the mother's jugular why they all stand around laughing.
Have you all not got the point by now, you can't INSIST that everyone who comes to the site has to read the entire thing. You obviously think your bullying can carry over into the cyber realm and have no comprehension of what is expected of a forum. The patronising "well you obviously haven't read through the site before you posted" garbage posted by Michael Green is extremely tedious and can only be construed as bullying. You have been accused numerous times of being arrogant and rude, maybe it's time to heed the warnings. You assume responsibility for the site in the guise of AGOG and SISYPHUS then you must also assume responsibility for how members are treated and should be ashamed of yourself.
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3603/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3589/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/3612/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#post_22871
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/forum/pg/topicview/misc/1876/index.php&start=0&keep_session=1415661365#first_unread
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
SPCA is www.familylawwebguide.com.au
The Politics of Father Rights Activists – Do persistent critics of the Family Court behave in a way which stands up to scrutiny?
By M. C. Dunn
Presented to National Abuse Free Contact Campaign (NAFCC) 2004
In 1995 when the Australian family law was being amended, Family Court of Australia Chief Justice Nicholson stated “some people and some politicians with limited knowledge of the issues involved, tend to latch on to such dysfunctional persons for apparent political gain. This has the further unfortunate effect of empowering such persons to feel that their behaviour is not only acceptable but is the subject of sympathy and approval by politicians and government. It is all too often the experience of this court that its most persistent critics have behaved in a way which cannot stand up to public scrutiny, particularly in relation to issues of violence against women and children”. Justice Nicholson has consistently recognised that many of the Court’s harshest critics were “discontented litigants, sometimes obviously dysfunctional”. Further, he recognised that these same people and the groups to which they belong, were being granted access to corridors of powers that resulted in legislation and policy reforms that did not arrest the violence against women and children (that was being heard in some family court proceedings). Justice Nicholson continued “Such persons, who often espouse the rights of fathers, do very little for their cause. There are legitimate matters that can be advanced on their behalf and it is equally as important that the court and those within it do not adopt stereotyped attitudes towards men as well as women.” (Nicholson 1995, p1)
In the context of Justice Nicholson’s comments above, this paper scrutinises the behaviour and language of the two major father’s rights activists organisations, the Shared Parenting Council of Australia (SPCA), and the Fatherhood Foundation (FF), particularly in relation to issues of violence against women and children and how these intersect with the emergent contemporary discourse of “fatherlessness” assertion and role models for children. Further this paper will provide evidence that the internet based collectives affiliated to the two key fathers’ rights activists organisations incite virulent hatred of, and harmful action towards targeted women and their perceived supporters. This paper examines why these two key Fathers’ Rights Activist Organisations (FRAO) are gaining such open access and encouragement to/from politicians when much of their agenda expresses high levels of hate and vitriol against women and why this is seemingly ignored in public discourse to the detriment of women’s and children’s safety.
This paper draws on primary materials including: submissions by FRAO and their membership to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs 2003 “Inquiry into Child Custody Arrangements” (from here on referred to as the Inquiry); self-generated literature; father’s rights activists email lists and message board postings, and media searches of publishes stories and broadcasts.
This paper focuses on the two major FRAO, the SPCA, and the FF because they have been identified as the two key players in lobbying the Australian government for legislative change in the area of family law.
Forming the Fathers’ Rights Agenda the two major Father’s Rights Activists Organisations
In 1998, after attending a prayer meeting in Canberra’s Federal Parliament, Warwick and Alison Marsh founded the Fatherhood Foundation (FF). It was set up in response to address what they perceived as an escalating social crisis caused by “fatherless families” and a high divorce rate (FF 2002). Contributing to their continued rise, the Fatherhood Foundation had been joined with and influenced by some father’s rights groups like Fairness in Child Support/Non-Custodial Party, and the Lone Fathers Association (LFA) (FF 2003, FF 2003i). Alliances within the men’s health network, right-wing conservative Christian prayer groups, and other men’s rights advocates resulted in the FF now joining the discourse about the need for family law reform more strategically (FF 2003ii). Claiming men’s rights to their children was the central platform, they agitated specifically for a rebuttable presumption of shared care because “too many men were suiciding as a result of “femocentric family law” system” (FF 2003iii).
A rebuttable presumption of shared care is a statutory provision that means that if parents separate, there would be an immediate legal presumption that any children of the marriage would live 50 per cent of the time with each parent. If that were not practical or desirable, then it would be up to one or both of the parents in court to rebut or challenge that. In the words of SPCA’s Matilda Bawden, "Parents (would) have the right to 50-50 contact and if a parent wants to contest that, they would have to argue in the Family Court that it's not in the child's best interest to have that contact” (Wenhem 2003). The circumstances to rebut such a presumption were never made clear.
Shared care has different possible meanings in the context of the renewed family law debate. In 1996 The Family Law Act was amended to make clear that while a child may reside largely with one parent, the responsibility for shared care of that child's well-being is ideally shared equally between both parents. The Act clearly articulates the principles to which it aspires in Section 60B(2). Those principles mean the Act provides a framework which is already 100 per cent flexible and can cater to any permutation of residency arrangements ensuring the best interests of children and their safety. In the context of the FRAO shared care means that children will divide their time between both parents’ residence equally (ie 50/50). A clear understanding of what is meant by ‘shared care’ is important, as it differs from the term rebuttable presumption of shared care which has the underpinning emphasis on preferencing parental rights by children spending equal amounts of time with each parent. Currently, the amount of time a child spends in each parent’s residence is significant in the discourse of family law reform, particularly as child support (cs) and welfare (Centrelink) disbursements are paid and now linked to the time the children spend at each parent’s residence, measured in nights and/or the primary residence.
In 2002, a number of the more vocal and active of the FRA groups from each state (other than Tasmania) incorporated to form a national council with a specific father’s rights agenda, but using the more ambiguous title of Shared Parenting Council of Australia (SPCA) (SPCA 2002i). Partly this title was developed in order to project a bipartisan approach to family law and to claim female support, usually second wives/partners and paternal grandparents (West 2003).
Both the SPCA and FF have a strong cross-membership between both organisations (FF 2003iv, SPCA 2003). While the FF has a distinctive right-wing fundamentalist Christian focus with an emphasis to strengthen father’s roles within their families, the SPCA reflects the concerns of non-resident parents (mostly fathers). Both are concerned with family law reform. Many fathers’ rights activists belong to multiple organisations to promote shared agendas for men’s control of property, child support, mothers and children through marriage promotion and attacks on the social supports available to single parent families.
Examples of joint affiliates, but with stronger right-wing fundamental Christian influence in both organisations are the Festival of Light and Australian Families Associations. Both of these organisations argue for preventative measures to stop marriage dissolution through the need to control the capacity of women to leave, since women are more likely to take the children, and thereby weakening fathers’ bonds with their child (Muehlenberg 2004). Another joint affiliate of both FRAO is the secular Lone Fathers’ Association (LFA) which represents predominantly non-resident fathers.
Organisations which focus on family law reform for men have linked to the SPCA only. An example of an affiliate of SPCA only is the Family Law Reform Association NSW Inc. This organisation does not construct itself as a FROA, rather it claims equality for both parents, but states that fathers are usually the ones disadvantaged by the current family law system. Other affiliates are Dads Australia Inc, Fathers After Divorce, Men’s Confraternity of WA Inc, Men’s Right Agency (national), the Fatherhood Foundation, Ozydads and the Separated Fathers Network. With such a focus on fathers’/men’s rights the name Shared Parenting Council of Australia is not congruent with their apparent inclusive title that conceals a men’s rights agenda.
Access to political power
At least two of SPCA’s federal executive committee have political backgrounds, although in different political camps. The SPCA Federal Director (2002-2003), Geoffrey Greene, is a former deputy director of Liberal Party in South Australia who now works for the Liberal Party in Queensland whilst and SPCA Federal Director (2002-2003), and SPCA’s founding President, Matilda Bawden, is a former federal Democrat candidate. Both have had associations with the Richard Hillman Foundation Inc (RHF), a South-Australian based FRAO which focuses on the interests of fathers who claim to have been falsely accused of child sexual assault. Greene helped formulate the policy agenda for a rebuttable share care policy through his connections with the RHF. By 2002 he had severed that connection because the RHF had continued to pursue introducing a private member’s bill of a presumption of rebuttable shared care through the far right-wing One Nation’s Senator Len Harris. Greene saw greater opportunity to use his political connections within the Liberal Party, since they were in power, to lobby key friendly politicians and senators active in forming a backbench committee to influence the Prime Minister (Mottram 2003, Cassidy 2002, SPCA 2002ii). This strategy assisted men’s rights advocates in gaining access to sympathetic politicians. As reported by SPCA, they “established a clear pathway through the party room and Cabinet, to have our representations heard and acted on” (SPCA 2002iii). Similarly, the FF had networked through the Parliamentary prayer groups attended by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer, a number of Senators finding support and an opportunity to reinforce the case for social reform through legislative change (FF 2002).
Most of the SPCA federal executive committee and state and territory directors additionally have a history of lobbying and activism. Co-founder of Men’s Rights Agency, Sue Price, and current Federal director Michael Green facilitated a Parliamentary presentation that asserted the adversarial system of the Family Law Court had failed (men) and that a mediation process should be the first option in cases of family breakdown (SPCA 2002iii p2, Glancy 2002i, West 2003). (Green runs a mediation service in Sydney for divorcing couples). This presentation won over many parliamentarians, staffers and some media that were present.
Both the FF the SPCA most immediate agenda was to lobby government and representatives to ensure that post separation fathers have equal time with their children, as opposed to the idea of sharing responsibility (SPCA 2002 iv p3). The FF helped propel the SPCA’s lobbying by backing calls for an inquiry with their claims about “the facts of fatherlessness”. This list of alarming statistics was used to build the case for a rebuttable presumption of joint custody (Flood 2003). Aiding both FRAO agendas is appeal to the many conservative Christian parliamentarians’ pro-marriage beliefs and a few who support a masculinist discourse (Lyons Forum 1995, Andrews 1999, Crabb 2003). Both FRAO have succeeded in gaining sympathy for fathers, promoting their agenda using a rhetoric of equal parenting while at the same time stigmatising “fatherless” families, and denigrating and branding single mothers as insufficient care-givers whose families cause many social problems (Jones 2003, The Age 2003, Albrechtsen 2003, Daily Telegraph 7/7/03, Arndt 2002, Arndt 2003).
The branding of single mothers resonated in the conservative Australian Prime Minister, John Howard’s announcement of a major inquiry conducted by House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs into the arrangements of families post separation. The announcement mooting the possibility of a “rebuttable presumption of shared care”, as well as including inquiring into child support matters (Cordeaux 2003, Jones 2003i). The announcement speech on June 24 2003 is the first recorded mention by an Australian Prime Minister of the concept of a rebuttable presumption of shared care. Howard expressed his “worry” about growing “fatherlessness” and “boys’ needing male role models” as one of the impetuses for calling the Inquiry. This same promulgation of “fatherlessness” and boys’ needing male role models, specifically their biological father was also the same theme that SPCA and FF used in their various presentations, forums and lobbying to push changes in the area of family law.
When Howard called this Inquiry he reverted to using the outdated term of “custody” which was replaced by residency in 1996 family law reforms to emphasise both parties have parental responsibility post-divorce/separation ie: shared care (Parkinson 2003). This reform was to make clear that while a child may reside largely with one parent, the responsibility or “custody” of that child's well-being is ideally shared equally between both parents. The term custody is still used extensively by FRAO.
Disinformation and stigmatisation
Since 1995 conservative politicians and men’s rights activists have advocated consistently for a need for reassertion of Christian values, and promoted the traditional family as the basis for a stable society (Lyons Forum 1995, Andrews 1999, Millet 2002). The same covert language of mother-blaming, specifically single mother families, and an increasing pressure to promote marriage was part of the language and agenda by the FF on February 10, 2003 at their Fathering Forum held at Parliament House (Muehlenberg 2002, FF 2003ii). This was done specifically in the context of pressing the need for family law reform. The fatherlessness issue was further formalised on 26 June 2003, with the launch of a policy document, “The 12 Point Plan”, at the National Strategic Conference on Fatherhood, at Parliament House Canberra, well attended by politicians, their staffers, and media -just one month prior to the announcement by Howard.
The significance of the National Fathering Forum was the disinformation about “fatherlessness” disseminated as “fact” which was further repeated by those politicians who attended, and by media, gaining a largely uncritical foothold. This political and media take-up strengthened political support for fathers’ rights groups and in particular helped persuade Howard to hold the Inquiry into family law (Albrechtsen 2003, Cadman 2003, Barnett 2003, Jones 2003, Arndt 2003i, Mottram 2003, Wroe 2003). These public statements and materials prepared by Muehlenberg and other FRAO are characterised by the confusion of correlation and causation, the reduction of multiple social variables to bivariate associations, the highly selective use of research evidence, neglect of contradictory or competing evidence, and treatment of small differences as if they were gross and absolute (Coltrane 1997, p8 in Flood 2003). The fatherless claims are bogus statistics, with no factual basis yet became a powerful weapon in asserting their fathers’ rights political agendas (Flood 2003).
To give one example, Michael Flood researched the claim that 'Boys from a fatherless home are 14 times more likely to commit rape' that was a widely reported part of the '12 Point Plan' released by the National Fatherhood Forum in June 2003. Flood found it is one of the claims commonly made by those who argue the destructive effects of father absence on families and society. Yet this statistic is an invention. Although it has no basis in fact, it is regularly repeated even affecting social policy formulation (Flood 2003, The Age 2003, Labi 2003, Cadman 2003, SA Hansard (Evans) 2003, Burke 2004).
Fatherlessness – a social crisis?
Some politicians were so convinced about a fatherless “social crisis” as to repeat the disinformation of these FROA on their own websites, and in speeches in Parliament (Cadman 2003, Barnett 2003, Senate Hansard 2003). This information was the stimulus for other politicians actively lobbying on the need for family-friendly (father) policies, and other inquiries into the status of fatherhood (FF Issue No. 57- 29th September, 2003, Cadman 2003, SA Hansard Evan AL 23/9/03, Burke 2004). Accordingly, some politicians continue to use the fatherless assertions as part of their wider conservative reassertion of boys’ and men’s rights that covers such issues as boys’ under-achievement at schools, boys (not children’s) role models, along with increased violence, men’s suicide and other arguments that FRAO support, (Bouchard et al 2003, Nelson 2002, Oakes 2004, Stepfamily Zone 2003).
The political strategy of building an alarmist discourse about the problem “fatherlessness” aims to stem the perceived permissiveness of marriage breakdown by stigmatising single mother families as “fatherless” while at the same time promoting marriage by comparing social outcomes between the traditional families and single mother families (Mead 1999). A key contributor to the FF’s The 12 Point Plan, Meuhlenbeg claims that “85 per cent of sole parent families are fatherless families” (Fatherhood Foundation 2003, Appendix), when in fact 83% of sole parent families in Australia are headed by a woman (ABS 2003). Fatherless homes/families as defined by the National Library of Australia refers to single mother families (NLA 2000). Muehlenberg’s insults discount single mother capabilities, ignores fathers who have regular residency but not primary residency, ignores those fathers who have no contact orders due to a past history of violence, and overlooks those fathers who abrogated contact with their children, or those widowed. Consistent with the remainder of The 12 Point Plan, Meuhlenberg argues in the context of the absent parent, that a “growing body of evidence... to ensure the healthy development of children is the setting of the biological two-parent family. By a number of indicators, children from intact, stable two-parent will do much better than children from broken homes of single-parent families” (Muehlenberg 2002).
Blaming single mother families for poor social outcomes of children, in part based on data from other countries is again simplistic and but avoids intersecting issues like poverty, violence, health, housing, lower economic status of women, and resilience (Flood 2003). This political strategy of creating a social panic about fatherlessness reinforced by similar statements of “worry” made by the Prime Minister, which was echoed by politicians and media and that coalesce to undermine the image of single mother family capabilities, negatively influencing the socially mediated attitudes that may be personally internalised (Perry and Whiteside 2002).
In all this “fatherless assertion” there is little acknowledgment by FRAO or politicians that some ‘male role models’ (or some female) may not be useful for boys and girls, particularly in those highly dysfunctional families where entrenched conflict, domestic violence, serious mental illness or child abuse occurs. In their pursuit of father-centric and pro-marriage agenda FRAO have ignored that it is important for children to have effective, safe and healthy parenting, which most women are quite capable of, particularly if they have adequate support and resourcing (Flood 2003). Where there are negative outcomes among children who grow up without their biological fathers, these are explained in part by selection effects – by systematic differences between the people who divorce or never marry and those who marry once and stay married. Again these differences show up as high parental conflict, substance abuse, violence, mental illness and other forms of anti-social behaviour which are associated with divorce and with poor outcomes in children, not because the parent is a single mother (Rodgers et al 2003 p6, Flood 2003).
The FF, the SPCA and many FRAO involved in lobbying for family law reform have consistently sought to link suicide rates of separated men to blocked contact with their children and/or family “disintergration” (FF2003vi). The charge that either it is the mother who blocks contact or moves too far away or to the court who decide residency (and no-contact) arrangements (King 2003, Daily Telegraph 2003, Rhoades 2002). Dads In Distress (DiD) claims ”up to 5 men suicide each week”, while the SPCA claims up to “3 fathers suicide every day” as a result of family separation” (and being unable to father daily) (SPCA 2003i p17, Miller 2003). Miller who convenes DiD arrives at his weekly figure by assuming all 1817 male suicides in Australia in 2002 are due to separation distress, a totally bogus invention. This casual link and statistical issue was investigated by the Inquiry, and the Committee’s report stated “there are no reliable statistics on why men commit suicide. The committee has made considerable effort to obtain this information but it is not available.” (HRSCFCS Parliamentary Inquiry Report 2003). The FRAO suicide assertion puts the argument that these children of separated parents grow up fatherless but if a rebuttable presumption of shared care is not implemented there will be an epidemic of suicides (Miller 2004, SPCA 2003 submission p 17). This suicide assertion seeks to make children a cure and hold women responsible for deeply depressed mentally unstable men. Such an assertion does not advocate for better mental health accessibility and affordability for men, some of whom do experience distress in the separation process (Robinson and Rodgers 2004). Further, it presents an unacceptable risk of women and children’s safety as evidenced by the distressing cases where fathers have murdered their children, occasionally the ex-wife (or other family members), and then suicided – most often in the context of their ex-wife complying with contact arrangements. Post-fatality the connection is made that many of these men had past histories of domestic violence (Passmore 2004, Jackman 2003, Flood 2003, Rathus, Rendell and Lynch 2001, Astor 1994).
Therefore, the implications of fatherlessness claims and father suicide assertions in the context of arguing for the rebuttable presumption of shared care has its largest impact on those most vulnerable families, women and children who experience violence and abuse is at the hands of their partner/father.
Spreading the word
Much of the propaganda of the SPCA’s and the FF and their supporters in the media and in parliament is published and broadcast, often without a counterbalancing voices from women’s organisations or groups, or even the views of those with family law or with social policy expertise (King 2003).
FRAO longed for an unfettered forum to air their views and sought a ways to gain greater public support. This resulted in the development in 2001 of “Dads On the Air” (DOA), a weekly broadcast community radio 2GL (outer Sydney, NSW,). Although, more significantly, for those outside the broadcast area, DOA provides web-casts and internet-based message boards aimed specifically at fathers who have separated, assuming that they are unhappy with how they, as men and fathers, are treated by the courts, and/or child support agency and/or other family law infrastructure. The SPCA’s website states that “the Shared Parenting Council of Australia is pleased to support the Dads on the Air (DOA) program on 2GLF every Monday. To hear this program as an Audio Webcast click the link below. Dads on the Air Webcast” (SPCA 2003ii). The reason behind such an endorsement of DOA is that often SPCA leadership are regularly guests of the program. FF’s President Warwick Marsh has also been a guest of DOA programs.
Additionally, since their formation both the FF and SPCA have sought to fund “an extensive publicity and advertising campaign designed to inform and educate the Australian public” (SPCA 2002iv p3, FF 2002). Both these groups have media strategies aimed at gaining greater public support for their respective and collective agendas (FF 2003i, SPCA 2002i). To this end, they are also aided by media commentators like Bettina Arndt who have actively lobbied on behalf of, and aided FRAO by giving them access to decision makers and giving them a forum to air their views and to influence public opinion (FF 2003v FF 2003 vii). Ms Arndt’s influence extends beyond her media commentator role, with her public speaking and her appointments to many consultative roles by the Coalition government in advisory groups such as the Family Pathways Advisory Group, Ministers’ Advisory group on child care and child development (Attorney-Generals Department 2000,The Age 2003).
With greater access to technology many individuals are able to link with each other, small vocal groups, or with larger national organisations like the SPCA utilising the internet and airwaves. Also, they are able to link nationally and internationally so there is an extensive internet-based network of e-list discussion groups and websites on which to further strategise in response to their grievances about family law issues and have an internet presence. Some members are on multiple lists, creating repetition with cross-postings with information appearing on several sites and lists (some 28 identified national lists associated with SPCA alone, many more international e-list affiliations). All FRAO sites and e-lists are anti-feminist.
Webcasts and websites like Dads on the Air (DOAw), e-lists like Ozydads and the shared parenting yahoo list that hosts message boards and forums plays a considerable role in supplying space and information, sometimes launching vitriolic attacks that quickly escalate into hate speech and/or incite hatred on/about individual and collective women, feminists, judiciary, government agencies and organisations that intersect with family law and/or their political agenda. For example after a DOA broadcasts, it is common to find anonymous individuals posting their grievances on message boards, including some overseas FRA posts. Easy access to email facilitates a quick and effective way of contacting opponents, fellow supporters, media and politicians and is part of an essential FRAO tool kit.
Some public sites keep the language respectful, but closed lists, and/or anonymous boards display language and rhetoric that are disturbing. Some posts involve the expression of hate, violence, threats and/or unrestrained discourse against anyone who the FRAO feels opposes their views or questions their rights. This phenomenon is not isolated to the Australian context as a Canadian study by Bouchard, Boily and Proulz found. In the context of family law where domestic violence and child abuse cases feature more prominently, particularly in the contested cases, the hate speech and the incitement of more “militant” action is an extension of the familial intimidation and violence into the public and political sectors.
As part of their hate rhetoric FRAO continue to incite one another to keep their ex-partner in litigation. For example, after the initial report of the Inquiry, many postings on various FRAO-networks incited one another to “drag their ex-partners back into the legal system to “clog it up” and “show the bitch and the [politicians/judiciary] bastards we want their child for equal time” [Ozydads e-list, posted 29/12/03]. It is impossible to assess whether these men then carry through with their threats.
Further the vitriolic language of FRAO members single out representatives of specific organisations who either represent family law system or who comment on issues associated with family law. For example Chief Justice Nicholson, HREOC Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward, even academics like men’s interest researcher Michael Flood are described as “the enemy”, “maggots”, labelled misandrists and often slandered using derogatory terms, sometimes with homophobic labels. Occasionally post describe inflicting murderous desires on these individuals, particularly the Chief Justice and his colleagues (“If I could ask for my "Family Law Court Judge" (FLCJ) to be hanged”). An example of the more extreme of emails was posted on a list moderated by a former State director of the SPCA that stated:
Posted 19/03/2004 Ozydads network
“>What about Magistrates like Lawrence of Rockingham WA who not only
>accepted false DVO's but re-established them for THREE MORE YEARS!!1
>I want to kill that cunt and god help him if I find his address”
Sometimes the FRAO e-lists and sites accuse the Courts of being like feminists who they see as dictators (“feminazis” or “feminazi puppeteers”) and who are accused of great crimes (“crimes against humanity”, “legal child abductors”). Other hate rhetoric is aimed at professionals generally, especially lawyers, social workers and even police (“Lawyer-solicitor-barrister-judge scum mafia are riding on feminazi brainwashing ordinary taxpayers into believing they are neither well-paid thieves nor child abusers”).
More hate speech and intimidation is reserved for single-mother and sole parents’ spokeswomen who are vilified, slandered, defamed and hated with ferocity (“face of feminazi evil”, “fucking fat slag blood-sucking liar”). When the media allow these women to have a counter voice the hate-speech is sometimes escalated into threats and/or outright intimidation as posts on DOA escalated until FRAO, Fathers 4 Justice’s Australian Coordinator, Trevor Arthurson (who appeared in the same 60 Minutes program) sought to incite harm against Sole Parents’ Union President, Kathleen Swinbourne with a false allegation that stated “WE SHOULD REPORT HER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES [CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY] FOR THE WAY SHE TREATED HER SON” (DOA 30/5/04).
FRAO even target hate mail towards politicians, some whom have worked hard to support and understand their agenda. After the handing down of the report of the inquiry titled, “Every Picture Tells a Story” politicians reported receiving “hate mail threats of violence and significant abuse” (Hull 2004). Mrs Hull, as woman-chair of the Inquiry, was targeted and labelled “treacherous” and politicians generally were described as “F****G politicians are LYING SCUM” for not recommending 50/50 care. Fuelling such disgruntlement following the report’s release, DOA message boards had more than 460 posts (175 pages) of posts on one message board on DOA site alone, with some posts inciting a more “militant” approach in lobbying and demonstrating their opposition to what they see as a “feminised law system created by feminists”. Fathers 4 Justice (F4J) in Australia was started in April 2004 as anger-fuelled men seeking to copy the more successful militant and intimidatory actions of their UK brethren. Other FRAO messages boards contained similar postings. Since April F4J have attempted to hold several intimidating demonstrations outside Family Courts where “decontamination suits” were worn. The rationale behind F4J suits and super-hero costumes is “looks good in media and protesters can remain anonymous” (Ozydads 2004).
Many of these men do not see their language and actions as intimidating and violent in nature in and of itself. For example a women “Kym” challenged the fathers’ rights supporters about the hate speech on DOA message board posted on 04/01/2004 and the replies attacked her personally and one rejected her claims while suggesting such hate-speech was accurately targeted against “feminazi’s are evil bitches”, that “poofter pollies..might be voted out”.
Besides targeting individuals, organisations, opponents and professions, FROA hate discourse is almost exclusively focused on the same issues that the representative organisations push politically and in the media, (ie: child support, being denied contact with children, false allegations of child abuse and/or domestic violence, PAS, that women are equally violent, biased family court).
Some dedicated groups (for example: www.StopPAS.info www.MaleVictim.net , www.SelfRep.net , www.FamilyRules.net) have emerged on particular issues such as Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), which has been rejected by reputable medical and legal experts an invented condition. Yet postings quickly accuse the ex-partner of parental alienation syndrome (PAS) labelling them “PAS-child alienators”. This dedicated internet-based group assists fathers and their children who other FRA diagnose as being PAS victims, with peer-support and advice in how to incorporate such “evidence” into their court proceedings. PAS is growing in popularity amongst members of the father's rights movement. Initially, this syndrome was used by men who have allegations or have been charged with child abuse and/or domestic violence but now it is used by men who resent what they see as their ex-partner’s “gate-keeping” the child. Mostly it’s fathers and/or their second wife who claim that the mother of their child is trying to alienate the father-child relationship as a means of denying contact and/or getting an upper hand in court. In all their rhetoric there is no recognition in any of the discussion of resolving entrenched conflict, or of the reality of incest and domestic violence.
Other vocal internet-based groups with issues are “Self-Represented Litigants”, “male victims of domestic violence”,” child abduction”, “disenfranchised”, and “fathers against child support”. For example FRAO combine their disgruntlement about child support and hatred rhetoric about the Child Support Agency (CSA). They believe that this agency and its staff are directly responsible for their misery claiming impoverishment resulting from a harsh formula (Stapleton 2000). FROA strategise and lobby to make child support payments “fairer” for payers (mostly fathers), on how to achieve a 50/50 shared care partly to abolish any child support assessment (Flanagan 2003). The FRAO logic is that if each parent shares the care including financial responsibility equally there will be no need for a child support agency intervention. Sometimes posts contain accusations that the Child Support Agency (CSA) is “hounding them to death”, or how to exploit loop-holes or win a change of assessment to reduce child support obligations. Sometime though, FRA incite one another to email the child support agency, or participate in campaigns design to show their contempt for this agency. This ties in with their unsubstantiated opinion that all men are suffering in the family law system, and that this is causing ‘an epidemic of male suicides, especially after the issuing of child support obligation/debt notices’ (Stapleton, 2003, SPCA 2003).
At other times their misogynist views encourage disparaging posts of their ex-partner, sometimes revealing highly sensitive identifying reference numbers and/or personal information about themselves and their ex-partner on publicly accessible e-lists, clearly breaching privacy laws. For example a letter to the Child Support Agency in Melbourne was posted to a DOA forum containing the case reference number, and the full names of all parties and information about his case and obligations. The father blames the mothers for his serial fatherhood and consequent child support obligations.
Commonly postings about the CSA are referring to it as the C$A or the “Collection and Suicide Agency”. For example – this email is an excerpt of a campaign’s instructions to send old dirty shirts to the Prime Minister, and failing acceptance of the shirts by the PM’s office to ensure the return address is each father’s CSA case manager, posted to world lists on 13/1/04:
“ Put the name and address of your C$A case manager as the sender on the post pack (– THIS IS IMPORTANT, IF THE PM REFUSES DELIVERY YOU DON'T WANT YOUR SHIRT RETURNED TO YOU, THIS WILL GET YOUR SHIRT SENT TO YOUR CASE MANAGER) I am a non-custodial parent. I know that the government and Child Support Agency won't be happy until they have the shirt off my back. Well here it is! I hope you're satisfied!”
Further, fathers’ rights activists set up websites or post their stories about being “driven to welfare dependency”, or “fleeing overseas” “in exile” because of child support obligations (Desbois 2004). Conversely these same individuals while claiming to love and care about their child/ren do not appear to be willing to concede that child support keep will their child out of poverty, and that their lack of contact with their child/ren is self-imposed. This is one among many inconsistent opinions and beliefs which characterises the FRA agenda. For example this posting to Ozydads network demonstrates:
“re: Phone calls, conferencing and pity
Mark wrote:
>"Its all bullshit.FUCK the legal system, go out and DO what you
must.....whatever the cost.enough is enough.The REAL men are in jail \snip\
..well, Mark, i am a 'real' man and i chose to be out of jail by hiding
overseas. to make a difference i joined F4J to fight. Lionel is a member of
f4j-international. please join him and others in WA to decontaminate your FCs.
Roger
http://www.pafe.human-rights.org/index.htm
In all the FRAO hate commentary that targets opponents, organisations, and issues most of their propaganda affects women generally. The SPCA’s woman president, Matilda Bawden, expressed it like this: “The Family Court is biased against men; self-serving feminists dominate the family law policy agenda in Australia and the Family Court itself; women habitually “lie and cheat in court” (Wenham 2003). This again feeds into a collective ideology that mothers (women) lie and cheat and are likely to make false allegations. This ideology is transparent in SPCA views and rhetoric on violence against women and child abuse, almost exclusively framed in the context of false allegations.
Adding to the assertion that women lie and cheat the SPCA seeks to negate women’s experiences of violence by arguing gender symmetry (ie: that men and women are equally aggressive towards each other and therefore domestic violence is a gender-neutral issue) (SPCA, 2003, Men’s Rights Agency, 2003). In their submission to the Inquiry the SPCA offers no discussion on how to engage perpetrators to end their violence, or how to protect victims other than through mandatory mediation and counselling. Given that separation is a high risk period for women and their children’s safety, enforced mediation has been shown to expose women to being re-abused (Astor 1994, Rathus et al 2000). Further FRAO have organised to attack campaigns that seek to end violence against women including writing to politicians, and the Advertising Standards Board to complain about the “Australia says No to violence” domestic violence campaign (Ozydads 15/6/04, 20/6/04).
Similarly FROA child protection discourse is generally in the context of biological fathers are the best protectors of their children, that most allegations are false. Although the SPCA wrote in support for speedy expedited investigations where child abuse is “established” allowing the Family Court to rule on parenting plans [presumably no contact] (SPCA, 2003). Yet FRAO are so vehement in their assertion that women and children falsely accuse child abuse that even child protection campaigners come under attack. SPCA Director Edward Dabrowski, on 29/6/04 emailed Senate candidate and child protection campaigner Hetty Johnson, “I have read you mission statement for an automatic presumption of no contact for fathers who are victims of false abuse accusations and mother's shallow objections. Even worse is that you would deny natural justice on the basis of unproven allegations. Do you really think that people will vote for a despot to enter Parliament and remove their natural rights and relationship with their children? You have been found out, uncovered, exposed”. Again the assumption is that women lie and coach children to falsely accuse fathers, as Ms Johnson’s campaign mirrors the New Zealand Bristol Inquiry recommendation of no contact while allegations are thoroughly investigated. A small disruption that preferences child safety over parental rights.
Where FRAO do recognise child abuse they are more likely to selectively cite Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) child abuse data that records the family structure the child is living in, not the relationship of the perpetrator to the child (ie the single mother family). This selectivity fits with FROA misogyny that blames the mother to reinforce their opinion that biological fathers are the best protectors and single mothers are bad for children, especially if they have re-partnered. Their rhetoric discounts the urgent need for better child protection systems and safe parenting, instead seeking to promote fathers over mothers.
FROA also try to promote fathers to the detriment and denigration of mothers by posting global news items of child abuse perpetrated by mothers, or mother’s new partner to their e-lists or boards as a way of validating this belief (Ozydads 2002-2004, Shared Parenting Forum 2003-2004). News-reports are problematic as they approach complex social issues with simplistic conclusions, and often not all the full facts are presented at the time the story goes to print/air. Additionally, news agencies are selective in the reporting of news. So while FRAO are vocal about the need for biological father’s child protection, they are not pushing for more child-friendly investigation processes and prosecutions. Nor do their policies take account that some child abuse victims are pre-verbal, or lack language skills to articulate the crime. Unless a forensic approach is taken to collecting evidence, and/or there is greater cooperation between Federal and State agencies, substantiation of abuse enough for conviction child protection in the family law system continues to be problematic (Brown et al 2001).
The FROA discourse on domestic violence and child abuse depends on denying and negating victims’ experiences. FRAO present flawed, ill-conceived and invalid rationalisation as social policy solutions particularly when it comes to protecting victims of abuse and violence in familial circumstance. So entrenched is FRAO assertion of false allegation combined with selectivity about data that many FRAO ignore cases of child fatalities, and those women murdered by violent ex-partners even though these mothers do comply with contact-orders even when their safety is at risk [(for example: Bartley case 2002 (mother shot dead at handover), Kongon-Poulson case 2003 (2 infants and their grandfather killed, Dalton case 2004 (2 infants smothered by suicide father prior to handover)]. Several studies and pilot programs like Magellan have shown FRAO assertions to have no substance and that without proper Federal-State cooperative funding and investigations women and children’s safety will continue to be at risk (Brown et al 1998, 2001).
Hate propaganda, bogus and statistical inventions overlooked.
Given there is much evidence of hate propaganda, bogus statistics and dodgy research underpinning FROA policy, it is alarming that these groups are continuing to influence much of the debate and public discourse about family law reforms and be so accepted by politicians.
The hate literature and extremism is generally being ignored on both sides of politics. Support for FRAO has come from both houses of Parliament; Government Ministers and from a number of ALP, Independent and minor parties members (FF 2003v). This can be explained in part by constituency case load where fathers are more likely to complain. Further explanation may be found among the substantial divorce rate of politicians (majority male) so father discontentment with the family law system and on-going child support resonates with some of the personal life experiences of those politicians who are non-resident payers, or second-wives.
Further explanation of FROA rhetoric may be found in the personal interpretation of the suicide of Greg Wilton (Federal ALP member for Isaacs). There were many politicians on both sides of the House who were affected deeply by the events and his death. Liberal South Australian Senator Jeannie Ferris, who has helped SPCA along with NSW Backbencher Ken Ticehurst and Alan Cadman who also assisted FF, have spoken of being deeply affected by Mr Wilton’s suicide, which came two weeks after his attempted murder-suicide that was thwarted by police. Media reports simplistically blamed his death on marriage dissolution, child support and/or lack of contact but neglected to acknowledge his depression (mental illness) may have contributed to the separation/marriage dissolution in the first place (Rodgers 2004). Many politicians also fail to recognise men’s lack of access and poor funding of mental health support has meant that many men’s problems compounded to breaking point and mental illness is highly featured in divorce cases. There is an urgent need to de-stigmatise mental illness, and encourage those suffering depression and other mental disorders to seek out and access help. The safety needs of children are not best met by being cared for by a suicidal parent.
In reviewing some hundred plus media stories, many media commentators were found to have acted as customary spokespersons for the masculinist discourse (Bouchard et al 2003, Arndt 1999, Arndt 2002, Arndt 2003, Stapleton 2003, Jackman 2003, King 2003). While there are some attempts to canvass alternative opinions, largely the debate of a rebuttable presumption of shared care was reported from the “fathers losing out” perspective, often with an impassioned sense of grief (Overton 2004, Daly 2004, Horin 2003) and often sidelining domestic violence issues with incest/child abuse taboo. In taking a sensationalist approach encouraging “gender wars” the media gains improved ratings and sales but neglects social obligations. Further with the media reluctant to engage constructively on social relationships, they influence and prejudice the socially mediated attitudes and make invisible constructive discourse on building safe familial victims of violence.
It seems politicians and media have ignored men continue to be the dominant social group. The FRAO portrayal of fathers as an underclass who suffers discrimination denies the gendered social inequalities between men and women. It masks the gendered social, political and economic divisions of power where women still run second to men (Bouchard et al 2003).
Of further concern that such the false claims, hate language and violence supportive behaviour by FRAO is being overlooked by many politicians, bureaucrats and administrators in the context of the family law, policy making and this is also resulting in judicial pressure. While inflammatory criticism about alleged “collusion and corruption in the family law” continue unabated and while the leaders of FRAO do not engage their members to desist from posting such hate mail Justice Nicholson’s words caution all to scrutinise family law lobbying of FRAO. Such is the discourse of hatred and false claims of gender symmetry when it comes to sexual abuse and violence against women by FRAO that politicians have interfered in education campaigns that seek to lower or end violence in intimate relationships (Wallace 16/12/03, Harvey 17/12/03). This political intervention, together with the denial of hatred and threats against women generally, and FRAO opponents signals the presence of a backlash. This backlash constitutes an impediment to engaging men to recognise and take responsibility for their behaviour and language to ensure safety from violence for all.
So the question remains for politicians to answer why are FRAO gaining such influence and open access, when there is clear evidence of hatred and targeting of women and those involved in family law? There is a real need for politicians and media to assert women's rights to expression and political power and to live without threats fear and hatred. The political acceptance and promotion of the claims of fatherlessness insults those non-resident fathers who have positive influence and positive relationship with their child/ren. Also it undermines adoptive, step and blended families and continues to further stigmatise single mother households. None of this judgement and stigmatisation of selected families is in children’s best interests.
Recommendations:
In the context of the continued and growing use of the internet by FRAO to develop misogynist sites inciting hatred, and the number of growing discussion groups used to promote anti-mother propaganda, it is suggested that closer monitoring of these groups be undertaken by either a hate watch organisation, Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) or by HREOC to focus on gender social relations (Bouchard et al 2003). Such monitoring should be used to provide warnings to government agencies such as the Child Support Agency and the Family Court, also politicians, and non government organisations which are the target of hate actions. Authors of hate mail and incitements to violence should be investigated and prosecuted for promoting violence. Persistent offenders should be identified on a national security register.
The data from men’s hate speech could be collated and used to inform social policy development and women’s status. Further that a family law media awareness network should be established for those who intercept with the family law system to provide accurate information and to counter misinformation and provided informed information about family law and gender social relations. For example FRAO claims that fathers are subject to bias in family law is a provably false claim that is wrongly used to recruit men to the FRAO agenda and to discourage them from reaching positive workable post-separation parenting arrangements solely in order to support the FRAO case. Users of the family law system should not have to interpret it from a fathers’ rights framework but one from the perspective of child safety and best interests.
Also it is proposed that the “Window on Women” site be the central information, reference and factual data site for journalists and academics and others to access on the status of women in various areas such as family law. Further that publication of gendered data must always be supported by analyses that provided the context, since without it the data only fuels the masculinist discourses. This site and social responsibility should be broadly publicised. Also the establishment of a strategy to develop and support the dissemination by women’s groups of positive egalitarian messages to balance masculinist discourse and FRA propaganda.
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