Page 1063 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I will now read out the invitation that was sent to Mr Connolly. It is fortunate that we have an exact copy of Mr Connolly's invitation, so we can tell what was written. As I read, you may wish to ask yourselves: Is this invitation an example of the extremist ratbaggery that Mr Connolly alleged it was? You may recognise the invitation as it is the same one that was sent to 12 members of the Assembly, each personally addressed. In his speech Mr Connolly also referred to the right-wing misogynists out there who are dedicated to overwhelming domestic violence laws. "Misogynist" means woman hater. This is yet another unjust label that can be seen to be directed to the convenors of the forum. I read the letter, labelled annexure A, from the Lone Fathers Association (ACT) Inc. that invited members of this Assembly to the domestic violence forum:
Terry Connolly
ACT Attorney-General
Dear Terry
Re our recent telephone discussion.
I now confirm (in writing) my request for your assistance in our plight for some fairness to be put back into our ACT laws on Domestic Violence.
Neither ACT-based single parent organisations with which I am involved - Parents Without Partners (PWP) and the Lone Fathers Association (LFA) - condone domestic violence, but we do speak out against the inequities which are built into the current laws.
For instance, we strongly protest at the assumption that a person is assumed guilty on allegations alone, until that accused person proves that the allegations are incorrect! Often this results in an order from the Magistrates Court giving the Police powers to evict one party from the matrimonial home. That person has no rights and cannot go to court to answer the charges until up to 10 days after the event! Even then the accusing party can come up with further false allegations and present these as evidence which causes the matter to drag on even further.
I am, I hasten to add, not for one moment trying to justify any act which may be construed as "domestic violence" such as the learned judge in South Australia did recently. His judgment has set back human relationships (let alone the law) by 20 years!! Let me repeat; I, and my organisations (which represent many women who have suffered from similar circumstances), are against all forms of violent behaviour. However, it is a common occurrence that false allegations are made in desperate circumstances (even the women will admit this). I have been called on my home 'phone number for help on this very issue by over one dozen callers during last December alone! They are often referred to us by the very people responsible for their eviction; eg, the Police; as well as counsellors, LifeLine, and even areas of the local government!! Our organisations do not have the resources to deal with the complications of such cases, nor the trauma of trying to find accommodation for fathers and young children evicted from their homes in the middle of the night!! That is just social madness!! It is also creating much bitterness and needlessly inflamed passions!!!
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .