Independent views By Brendan Horan

I want to advocate for a fair outcome for children affected by relationship breakdowns. As a father, I struggle with parental squabbles over the care and protection of our children. In particular, those associated with broken relationships.

I don't advocate for couples remaining in dysfunctional and sometimes violent relationships but I do advocate for a child-centred outcome when relationships do fail.

Two issues are most common, and as MPs we cannot do a lot with Family Court decisions. Issue one is the best and most caring placement of the child. This is extremely complex and may involve caring grandparents seeking access and wider family member involvement as well. The children inevitably become pawns on an ever-moving games board between families. They often have to manage parental antagonism, differing parental expectations, standards, and adult issues. I encourage parents to recognise the potential damage, that their inability to co-operate, can have on their children.

Issue two, we most often hear about, involves the lack of fathers fronting up to their responsibilities in respect to the financial care of their children. There seems to be an attitude out there among many that they are giving money to their ex-partner rather than money to manage the care of children they helped bring into this world. I say shame on those fathers who play games with bank accounts, hide money overseas, and manage family trusts – all to avoid fronting up to their responsibilities.

To make this even more difficult the Inland Revenue Department has a lack of capacity and efficient systems to help. For these difficult fathers mentioned above, the child's lead caregiver has to apply annually for a financial administration review, managed at huge costs, by an independent lawyer who meets with both parties and makes a fair income assessment. The difficulty here is the IRD's inability to investigate the truth of statements made; and the huge costs of investigating the real wealth and income of these dodgy fathers who may employ equally dodgy professional assistance in their plight to beat the system.

Facebook.com/Brendan.horan.336 twitter.com/brendanhoran or phone Brendan on 07 574 0253.