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Madam Speaker

As a new member to this house I thank the people of Queensland.......

We believe that truth will always prevail, we are very conscious of the words of Arthur Schopenhauer "All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self - evident". I am going to use this opportunity to peel away the myths surrounding One Nation and present some facts. To explain the platform of positive changes that drove me to stand up for my children and grandchildren and future generations of Australians. To present the positive faces of those involved in this new development in Australia's political history.

I believe that a safe, secure and prosperous society depends upon the integrity and sanctity of the traditional family unit. We must have as a guiding principle strong functional family units. I am appalled that approximately one million children do not live with their fathers in Australia. During my trips around Queensland I have been inundated by pleas for help from non-custodial parents who have been deprived of access to their children. Divorce is unfortunately the only solution for some families, but we must remember that children ideally should have a mother and a father. Denial of parental and grandparents contact to a child is I believe synonymous with child abuse.

Maintenance is a necessary tool to ensure that parents do not abdicate their parental responsibilities, but providers should not be forced into poverty and a position that restricts their opportunity to develop a new family.

We advocate the Family Law Court should be abolished, and replaced with family tribunals. The current system is too expensive, too adversarial, and children are used as pawns, like a game of chess. The family tribunal allows for consultation with no legal representation where quick talking and well paid lawyers can confuse the issue.

Senior Magistrate Stan Deers has accused some partners of using domestic violence orders to enhance their opportunities to seek custody of their children Courier Mail July 5 1995 People who make vexatious or malicious domestic violence orders should face the full force of the law and pay costs.

The current formula for determining child maintenance is unfair and unworkable and needs to be scrapped. Non custodial parents want to provide for their children but under the current system it leaves most in a life of poverty, with no future of another family life and in a lot of cases unemployed because that is the only way of surviving. Suicide and murder has plagued many family lives. Members of the parliament must work together to find fair solutions.

Full speech is here