Page 1064 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993
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I turn to page 2, which reads:
I have been bringing these problems to the attention of the local government for years now and, as you are no doubt aware, there is still nowhere for these people to go, as there are no "men's refuges" or other such organisations for them to turn to - apart from us!
Therefore we feel that there must ... be a balance reinjected into the current legal process which allows the accused their statutory right of natural justice.
Should the law and the ACT government not yield to our request, then we will have no alternative but to take immediate steps to institute a legal challenge in the courts which will effectively outlaw all domestic violence legislation. This will have the effect of leaving many women and children vulnerable and unprotected in the whole Australian community. However, if the rights of the accused individuals are not to be protected, then this is the only course of action we can take to preserve the dignity and compassion of the society in which we all are forced to live.
To avoid such a mutually unrewarding situation, I suggest that we all get together, in public, to clear the air and make some constructive amendments to the current legislation.
I now invite you to a forum which will be run by both the LFA and PWP. I will also advertise it widely in the local media and pass on invitations to all those affected by the current legislation. This is what it will say:
PWP(ACT) and the LFA(ACT) will host a public forum on domestic violence to be held at the Parents Without Partners Centre ... Dickson ...
An invitation is extended to anyone interested in this issue. The Federal Minister for Justice and representatives from the Federal Police and other referring agencies have been invited to attend. Local politicians have also been invited and can expect to be lobbied to have these matters (and any resolutions) discussed in the ACT Assembly.
This is a personal invitation to you to come along and at least see for yourself the legitimate grievances of those who are being prejudiced by the current domestic violence legislation and its operation in the National Capital. Please send your acceptance to me at the above address, or 'phone or fax it to me, as soon as possible. Preferably we would like to know your intentions by week ending 5 February 1993.
Yours sincerely
Barry Williams, BEM, JP
National and ACT President, Lone Fathers Association Inc; State President, Parents Without Partners (ACT) Inc.
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