A proposed law allowing judges to order separated parents to spend equal time with their children was introduced to Australia's parliament Thursday.
The move was praised by divorced fathers' groups, but former Family Court Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson said the legislation pandered to the wishes of such groups, and was not necessarily in the best interests of children, The Australian newspaper reported.
Attorney General Philip Ruddock said the government wanted to change the culture of family breakdown, to allow children to know both their parents and encourage parents to share responsibility for their children.
Ruddock said the court would have to devise an arrangement for the child to spend "substantial and significant time" with both parents, if equal time was not appropriate.
The Labor Party's legal affairs spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said parents had a hard time balancing work and family, and labor laws passed by Parliament in the past two weeks would not help family relationships.
"It is no good having a court order entitling you to spend time with your kids if your boss won't let you take the time off to do it," she said.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
