are able to make a shared care arrangement work for the benefit of the children. They have to live close enough together, for a start., is that the law should encourage the maximum involvement of both parents in children's lives which is consistent with the children's best interests. That principle needs to be retained in the act.
The ALRC makes various proposals to simplify the law. It avoids some of the harder issues, such as pre-marital assets, but a reforming government could and should tackle them. These issues are dealt with very sensiblyThe commission makes other reform proposals that may sound technical, such as how orders for costs should be made, or when arbitration could be used. Together, these proposals could do a lot to reduce theby some litigants and a minority of family lawyers.
The ALRC's report offers a clear and coherent way forward for the government. It is worthy of the most careful consideration by all politicians concerned about improving the system. Patrick Parkinson is academic dean and head of TC Beirne School of Law at The University of Queensland. This article originally appeared on