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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp

Labor to scrap ‘equal time’ test for parents in custody disputes, with child welfare paramount

Silhouette of child sitting on bed
New legislation proposed by the Albanese government will simplifying legal tests to determine what parenting arrangements is best for children in family law disputes. Photograph: Blackstation/Getty Images

Children’s best interests will become the paramount factor in family law disputes under a major reform which includes scrapping the requirement for courts to consider equal or substantial time with each parent.

The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, is releasing a draft bill on Monday aimed at improving the safety of separating families and simplifying the test for what parenting arrangement is best for children.

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