Canberra Bandage Parade Protest at Parliament House makes an impact
SFLC | June 22, 2009
Concerned parents and professionals gathered in Canberra on Monday June 22, 2009, to protest current family
laws. Sprawling across the lawns of Parliament House, wrapped in bloodied
bandages, arm slings seated in wheelchairs, some pushing injured dolls in
strollers, the shock-value message was loud and clear - children are
suffering at the hands of abusive parents, due to the Family Law Act.
Media gathered to interview Barbara Biggs, Convenor of the Safer Family Law Campaign, a group formed after the horrific death of Darcy Freeman, the four year old girl allegedly thrown from the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne earlier this year. Ms Biggs clarified why the protestors were there, pointing out that bad Family Court decisions were harming children. She told press that children were frequently being ordered to live with violent parents whilst being kept from their protective parent. Breast-fed infants were being taken from their mothers for periods of up to a "week about" in order for fathers to claim their "shared care" time.
Other stories emerged, such as women being treated as "chattels", forced to stay in remote towns in order to facilitate their ex-partner's careers, and other parents losing custody altogether for not "encouraging" children to have a meaningful relationship with the other (abusive) parent. Protesters then marched on the city centre, drawing much interest and sympathy, finally converging again at Parliament House. Here parents aired their horror stories of losing children to abusive ex-partners to several parliamentarians who expressed concern and vowed to help the cause in any way they could.
The protests continue with a rally to be held in Sydney on June 25
View the Canberra Rally Media Release here
View the Canberra Rally Flyer here
See all Safer Family Law News Articles