In its submission to the Federal Parliament’s Inquiry into the Family Law System, the Australian Family Association has recommended that couples who separate should have to wait two years instead of the current one year before filing for divorce (unless there is a history of domestic violence). This was described by News Ltd columnist Tory Shepherd this week as “wanting to drag marriage back into the dark ages”.
Shepherd opened her article by asking “Marriage? What is it good for? A cracking party, a delightful expression of love, a way for families and friends to get to know each other?” In a letter to the editor I wrote that more than a ‘cracking party and an expression of love’, marriage is an extremely important social and public good bringing a range of economic, health, educational, and safety benefits for children and adults alike. Divorce on the other hand can have some terrible consequences. It’s why we should do all we can to strengthen marriages and promote the benefits of marriage, including giving couples more time to ‘mend it, don’t end it’.
The attacks on marriage, life and family are relentless.