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In late 2005, Fathers4Equality undertook a survey of federal parliament in order to determine the views of each lower house and upper house member. Every member of parliament was approached as much as three times to provide a response.

Some of the members surveyed provided an immediate and explicit response, others were undecided, and yet others simply refused to respond.

Fathers4Equality eventually collated all received responses and reviewed the parliamentary record to determine the views of others.

In this way, Fathers4Equality determined what the ultimate outcome may have been, if a family law amendment incorporating a "legal presumption of equal parenting time as a starting point for child residence negotiations", was voted on in parliament as a conscience vote.

The responses were overwhelmingly in support of a 'legal presumption of equal parenting time' as a starting point for child custody negotiations, by a factor of two to one. The Senate count was just 3 votes short of an absolute majority, with 24 votes unnaccounted for, while the house of representatives was just 5 votes short of an absolute majority, with 48 votes unnaccounted for.

House of Representatives:

  • 69 would vote for an equal time presumption amendment
  • 33 would NOT vote for an equal time presumption amendment
  • 4 is undecided
  • 44 unknown
Senate:
  • 37 would vote for an equal time presumption amendment
  • 15 would NOT vote for an equal time presumption amendment
  • 1 is undecided
  • 23 Unknown

What do these results mean? Quite simply, if good laws in this country were decided upon by modern day community standards, as represented by the "unfettered" majority view of our elected officials, or otherwise by the overwhelming views of the Australian public, we would now have family laws genuinely designed to protect the best interests of the child, rather than laws reflecting a by-gone era that have no place in modern day Australia.

Unfortunately, in some cases at least, the laws of a democratic country are ultimately determined by unrepresentative pressure groups who have the resources and influence to promote their vested interests only, at the expense of everyone else. This is one of those cases.


  1. To find your federal electorate & the current sitting member go to the AEC website & search on your suburb or postcode.
  2. To view all Senators by State go to the APH website & select the appropriate links.


Hide details for WOULD VOTE FOR Shared Parenting AmendmentWOULD VOTE FOR Shared Parenting Amendment53
Hide details for House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives38
Alan CadmanLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Alby ShultzLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Andrew SouthcottLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Barry HaaseLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Barry WakelinLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Bob BaldwinLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Bronwyn BishopLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Bruce BillsonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Christopher PyneLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
David FawcettLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
David TollnerNationalsHouse of Representatives1
De-Anne KellyNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Dennis JensenLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Jim LloydLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Joanna GashLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
John MurphyALPHouse of Representatives1
Judi MoylanLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Kay ElsonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Kay HullNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Kelvin ThomsonALPHouse of Representatives1
Ken TicehurstLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Kerry BartlettLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Kym RichardsonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Malcolm TurnbullLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Michael FergusonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Michael JohnsonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Pat FarmerLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Patrick SeckerLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Paul NevilleNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Peter DuttonLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Peter SlipperLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Sophie PanopoulosLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Steve GeorganasALPHouse of Representatives1
Stuart HenryLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Tony AbbottLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Tony WindsorIndependantHouse of Representatives1
Trish DraperLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Warren EntschLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Hide details for SenateSenate15
Alan FergusonLiberalsSenate1
Barnaby JoyceNationalsSenate1
Bill HeffernanLiberalsSenate1
Brett MasonLiberalsSenate1
David JohnstonLiberalsSenate1
Eric AbetzLiberalsSenate1
Gavin MarshalALPSenate1
George BrandisLiberalsSenate1
Jeannie FerrisLiberalsSenate1
Nicholas MinchinLiberalsSenate1
Paul CalvertLiberalsSenate1
Russell TroodLiberalsSenate1
Steve FieldingFamily FirstSenate1
Steven ParryLiberalsSenate1
Ursula StephensALPSenate1
Hide details for WOULD VOTE AGAINST Shared Parenting AmendmentWOULD VOTE AGAINST Shared Parenting Amendment25
Hide details for House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives21
Annette EllisALPHouse of Representatives1
Anthony AlbaneseALPHouse of Representatives1
Carmen LawrenceALPHouse of Representatives1
Catherine KingALPHouse of Representatives1
Chris HayesALPHouse of Representatives1
Chris PearceLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Duncan KerrALPHouse of Representatives1
Jennie GeorgeALPHouse of Representatives1
Julie OwensALPHouse of Representatives1
Kelly HoareALPHouse of Representatives1
Kevin RuddALPHouse of Representatives1
Kim BeazleyALPHouse of Representatives1
Lindsay TannerALPHouse of Representatives1
Nicola RoxonALPHouse of Representatives1
Peter AndrenIndependantHouse of Representatives1
Sharon GriersonALPHouse of Representatives1
Steve GibbonsALPHouse of Representatives1
Sussan LeyLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Tanya PlibersekALPHouse of Representatives1
Wayne SwanALPHouse of Representatives1
Wilson TuckeyLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Hide details for SenateSenate4
Andrew BartlettDemocratsSenate1
Andrew MurrayDemocratsSenate1
Claire MooreALPSenate1
Ruth WebberALPSenate1
Hide details for UNDECIDEDUNDECIDED5
Hide details for House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives4
Bruce ScottNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Chris BowenALPHouse of Representatives1
Maria VamvakinouALPHouse of Representatives1
Sharon BirdALPHouse of Representatives1
Hide details for SenateSenate1
Kate LundyALPSenate1
Hide details for LIKELY TO VOTE YES - but unconfirmedLIKELY TO VOTE YES - but unconfirmed53
Hide details for House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives32
Alexander DownerLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Alexander SomlyayLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Andrew LamingLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Andrew RobbLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Anthony ByrneALPHouse of Representatives1
Bob KatterIndependantHouse of Representatives1
Danna ValeLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
David JullLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Don RandallLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Gavan O'ConnorALPHouse of Representatives1
Greg HuntLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Ian CausleyNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Jackie KellyLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Joe HockeyLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
John AndersonNationalsHouse of Representatives1
John ForrestNationalsHouse of Representatives1
John HowardLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Julie BishopLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Kevin AndrewsLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Louise MarkusLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Luke HartsuykerNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Mal WasherLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Mark BakerLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Michael KeenanLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Peter LindseyLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Peter McGauranNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Phil BarresiLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Philip RuddockLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Ross VastaLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Steven CioboLiberalsHouse of Representatives1
Tony BurkeALPHouse of Representatives1
Warren TrussNationalsHouse of Representatives1
Hide details for SenateSenate21
Alan EgglestonLiberalsSenate1
Amanda VanstoneLiberalsSenate1
Chris EllisonLiberalsSenate1
Concetta Fierravanti-WellsLiberalsSenate1
Gary HumphriesLiberalsSenate1
Grant ChapmanLiberalsSenate1
Guy BarnettLiberalsSenate1
Helen CoonanLiberalsSenate1
Helen PolleyALPSenate1
Ian CampbellLiberalsSenate1
John HoggALPSenate1
Julian McGauranLiberalsSenate1
Mark BishopALPSenate1
Michael ForshawALPSenate1
Michael RonaldsonLiberalsSenate1
Rod KempLiberalsSenate1
Ron BoswellNationalsSenate1
Ross LightfootLiberalsSenate1
Sandy MacdonaldNationalsSenate1
Santo SantoroLiberalsSenate1
Steve HutchinsALPSenate1
Hide details for LIKELY TO VOTE NO - but unconfirmedLIKELY TO VOTE NO - but unconfirmed23
Hide details for House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives11
Anna BurkeALPHouse of Representatives1
Bernie RipollALPHouse of Representatives1
Craig EmersonALPHouse of Representatives1
Harry QuickALPHouse of Representatives1
Jenny MacklinALPHouse of Representatives1
Jill HallALPHouse of Representatives1
Julia GillardALPHouse of Representatives1
Julia IrwinALPHouse of Representatives1
Kirsten LivermoreALPHouse of Representatives1
Peter GarrettALPHouse of Representatives1
Roger PriceALPHouse of Representatives1
Hide details for SenateSenate12
Bob BrownGreensSenate1
Chris EvansALPSenate1
Christine MilneGreensSenate1
Dana WortleyALPSenate1
John FaulknerALPSenate1
Kerry NettleGreensSenate1
Lyn AllisonDemocratsSenate1
Natasha Stott DespojaDemocratsSenate1
Penny WongALPSenate1
Rachael SiewartGreensSenate1
Robert RayALPSenate1
Stephen ConroyALPSenate1
159

Survey Question:
Date: November 2005

Dear [Name]

Please consider answering the following question which would lead our group (Fathers4Equality) to a better understanding of your views on this very important issue.

You may choose to answer with one of the following five choices, in response to the below comment:

"Should an amendment be submitted to the family law act to incorporate a 'legal presumption of equal parenting time in the event of separation, ***rebuttable*** if child abuse can be reasonably substantiated, or if the parents mutually agree to an alternate arrangement.', then if it went to a conscience vote, I would vote for the amendment."

(A) I agree
(B) I disagree
(C) I withhold my view
(D) I am undecided

Please understand that this is not (as commonly mis-represented) a one size fits all approach. This is merely a starting point for child custody negotiations that would begin on a level playing field but the outcome would be determined by either the rebuttal, or the practical realities of the parents' circumstances. It would deny a winner takes all mentality, and re-focus efforts on arrangements that best meet the child's best needs.

If you are honestly uncertain, then you can choose option (E) for a more detailed view of our proposed joint residence amendment.


Responses - Upper House
Liberals Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 11 Vote YES Likely: 14 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 0
Nationals Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 1 Vote YES Likely: 2 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 0
ALP Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 2 Vote YES Likely: 5 Vote NO Confirmed: 2 Vote NO Likely: 6
Democrats Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 0 Vote YES Likely: 0 Vote NO Confirmed: 2 Vote NO Likely: 2
Greens Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 0 Vote YES Likely: 0 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 4
Independants Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 0 Vote YES Likely: 0 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 0
Family First Senate: Vote YES Confirmed: 1 Vote YES Likely: 0 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 0
Senate Totals: Vote YES Confirmed: 15 Vote YES Likely: 21 Vote NO Confirmed: 4 Vote NO Likely: 12
Senate Combined Totals: Vote YES Totals: 36 /76 Vote NO Totals: 16 /76



Responses - Lower House
Liberals Reps: Vote YES Confirmed: 30 Vote YES Likely: 22 Vote NO Confirmed: 3 Vote NO Likely: 0
Nats Reps: Vote YES Confirmed: 4 Vote YES Likely: 6 Vote NO Confirmed: 0 Vote NO Likely: 0
ALP Reps: Vote YES Confirmed: 3 Vote YES Likely: 3 Vote NO Confirmed: 17 Vote NO Likely: 11
Ind Reps: Vote YES Confirmed: 1 Vote YES Likely: 1 Vote NO Confirmed: 1 Vote NO Likely: 0
Reps Totals: Vote YES Confirmed: 38 Vote YES Likely: 32 Vote NO Confirmed: 21 Vote NO Likely: 11
Reps Combined Totals: Vote YES Totals: 70 /150 Vote NO Totals: 32 /150