Stronger laws to deal with international parental child abduction

The Australian media is reporting today on plans by the Australian Government to introduce legislation that will extend the range of scenarios under which International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) is a criminal offence in this country.

The Government is also proposing legislation that will empower the Family Court of Australia to suspend child support payments to parents who abduct children from Australia.

The proposed changes are very welcome but they fall short of introducing a general criminal offence to cover all cases of IPCA from Australia & not just those that are before the Family Court, or when one parent doesn't honour an agreement to return a child that has been taken to another country for a holiday & then retained without the consent of either the other parent or the Family Court of Australia.

Australia has one of the highest (if not the highest) per capita rate of IPCA in the developed world. The Australian Attorney-General himself describes IPCA as “an unimaginable horror happening at an unacceptable rate”. IPCA is also an extreme act of domestic violence by one parent against the other.

Hopefully the introduction of a general criminal offence & several related issues will be addressed when the Senate Enquiry into IPCA submits its report to the Australian Government on 31st October 2011.

Click here for link to Attorney-General's media release

Parliament of Australia: Inquiry into International (parental) child abduction to and from Australia

The full transcript of the Senate inquiry public hearing held on 26 August 2011 is now available. Those interviewed include left behind parents Ken Thompson and Lauchlan Leishman, Australian Federal Police, International Social Services Australia, Attorney-General's Department, Australian Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Legal Aid, Women's Legal Services, National Council for Single Mothers and their Children, Women's Legal Service Australia.

Click here for the full transcript

Click here for second hearing transcript 22/9/2011

Daniel Morcombe

Almost eight years ago in December 2003, 13 year old Daniel Morcombe disappeared while waiting for a bus on Australia's Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane (Queensland), to take him to a nearby shopping centre where he was going to buy Christmas presents for his family.

Despite a huge search; a national media campaign, and a one million dollar reward he was never found.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe always held on to a hope that their son would be found alive, but Queensland Police yesterday (13th August 2011) charged a man with Daniel's murder.

The police are now searching for Daniel's body so his family can say he has been found before he is finally buried with dignity.

The Morcombe family actively supported me in my search for my own son while they were still searching for Daniel. I will be forever grateful for their support.

A nation is now grieving for Daniel Morcombe. My thoughts today are very much with Bruce and Denise, as well as with the rest of their family and friends. And of course, with Daniel himself.

Parliament of Australia: Inquiry into International child abduction to and from Australia

Click here for Ken's submission to the Senate Inquiry

On 11 May 2011 the Senate referred the following matter to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees for inquiry and report.

The incidence of international child abduction to and from Australia, including:

(a) the costs, terms and conditions of legal and departmental assistance for parents whose child has been abducted overseas;

(b) the effectiveness of the Hague Convention in returning children who were wrongly removed or retained, to their country of habitual residence;

(c) the roles of various Commonwealth departments involved in returning children who were wrongly removed or retained, to their country of habitual residence;

(d) policies, practices and strategies that could be introduced to streamline the return of abducted children; and

(e) any other related matters.

Click here for all submissions submitted

Posted by Blog Coordinator

Congratulations Ken on winning the Father's Day Trophy 2011 in The Netherlands

To see the video announcement of the Father's Day Award click here

To read the English translation click here

Posted by Blog Coordinator

Statement

At the following link is a statement issued on 31 January 2011. Statement link click here

Posted by Blog Coordinator

Mediation and Legal Proceedings

Mediation and legal proceedings in relation to Andrew's return to Australia are about to commence in The Netherlands.

To enable these proceedings to be undertaken in the most constructive environment possible I will not be making any further media comment.

I won't be discussing the proceedings on this blog; www.findandrew.com, or on any other social networking medium.

I will continue to provide updates on my general activities.

Thanks for all your support.

Distance: 20 km

Weather: Rain (& sleet!)