The Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland (FLPA) is urging parents not to behave irrationally in parenting matters as their actions could have a damaging affect on their children.
FLPA president Trent Waller said it was an offence under the Family Law Act to breach a parenting order with a potential penalty being imprisonment.
Mr Waller warned that any person who interfered with the recovery order was at risk of being found to have contravened a court order – an offence which is subject to a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment.
His comments come in the wake of a local media report which highlighted underground networks were helping parents breach parenting orders.
“FLPA does not condone any parent, or anyone assisting a parent, to deliberately breach a Family Court order,” said Mr Waller.
“Likewise, FLPA does not accept that the Family Court fails to undertake a careful and considered process in determining the parenting arrangements that are in the best interests of the children.
“Nor do we accept that the Family Court fails in its duty to give careful consideration to any allegation of family violence or abuse affecting a child.”
Mr Waller advised parents who were unhappy with a court decision to obtain appropriate legal advice and not succumb to emotion by taking the law into their own hands.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Merrett Pye on 0422 096 049 or Caroline Thurlow on 0414 565 575
About FLPA
The Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland is the leading professional association for the family law sector in Queensland.