Equal Shared Parental Responsibility (ESPR)

CAWLS strongly supports the introduction of a bill to remove the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility (ESPR) from the Family Law Act.

Experts have been advocating for the removal of the ESPR and it is time the law caught up to the nuances of domestic and family violence.

An overwhelming 60-85% of matters under the Family Law Act involve domestic and family violence. The ESPR sets up a litigation hurdle for victims to get over and places the onus on the victim to prove that the perpetrator should not have equal shared parental responsibilities.

This hurdle often places the victim in a position for the perpetrator to use the law and courts against them. The removal of ESPR will allow the court to be in a better position to decide who should have parental responsibilities without victims having to prove otherwise.

We ask you all to show your support for this important bill by emailing or sending a Facebook message to the below politicians

🔺 Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister (www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm)

🔺 Hon Christian Porter MP, Attorney General (attorney@ag.gov.au)

🔺 Hon Marise Payne MP, Minister for Women (ministerforwomen@pmc.gov.au)

⚠ Update – The ‘Introduction of the Bill’ has since been delayed until next week … now is the time to send your support.