http://seven.com.au/news/topstories/160351

A federal Liberal MP has accused the Family Court and the government agency
which collects child support payments of institutionalised sexism against
men.
Alby Schultz said he would lodge a complaint with Sex Discrimination
Commissioner Pru Goward about the Child Support Agency (CSA) because it
abused its powers.

The agency has issued a vehement denial, saying it regularly consults with
men's groups, while feminists have condemned Mr Schultz's comments as
misogynist.

"The information that I have proves conclusively that the actions of the
Child Support Agency have had a significant impact on male suicide," Mr
Schultz told parliament.

"It has caused breakdown, heartache and pressures for new families where
payers of support have tried to get on with their life and create new
relationships."

He also targeted the Family Court in a media statement on Thursday.

"Institutionalised sexism is endemic and operating in the Child Support
Agency and, to a lesser degree, in the Family Court," he said.

Mr Schultz said he had scheduled a meeting with Ms Goward for next Tuesday
to discuss having the agency removed or restructured.

"I did that on the basis of forewarning her that I am going to lodge an
official complaint ... about the anti-male bias in the way the Child Support
Agency operates and its obviously institutionalised sexism against males,"
he said.

Prime Minister John Howard said he understood why men complained about the
system, but would not support Mr Schultz's comments.

"I can understand why some people say it because the more usual outcome of a
breakdown is that the mother has custody of the children and the father is
paying," Mr Howard told reporters.

"It's therefore on the law of probabilities predictable that the people
complaining about the system are predominantly men."

The agency rejected Mr Schultz's allegations.

"The Child Support Agency provides support to mums and dads and is not
biased against men," acting general manager Sheila Bird said in a statement.

More than 1.1 million children received child support and the agency was
there for them, she said.

"We meet regularly with men's groups to discuss their issues relating to
child support and seek their input when developing new initiatives," Ms Bird
said.

"It is important to remember that CSA is there for the children."

Women's groups hold a dim view of Mr Schultz's complaints.

"This is nothing more than the misogynistic rhetoric that is pedalled by
male rights groups," Women's Electoral Lobby spokeswoman Sarah Maddison told
AAP.

The fact women would, more often than not, end up looking after children was
not a bias against men, she said.

"That's not a feminist conspiracy, it's just a social fact," Ms Maddison
said.

The conservative Australian Family Association (AFA) said the situation
might not be as bad as Mr Schultz had made out, but men had a genuine
grievance over the matter.

AFA national vice-president Bill Muehlenberg acknowledged there were some
instances in which it was more appropriate for the mother to be with a
child, such as when the child was still breastfeeding.

"If it's a very young child, there are things a mum can do that a dad
can't," he said.


--
Men are everywhere that matters!





--- UseNet To RIME Gateway {at} 2/14/05 10:09:17 PM ---