Appendix 2 - Public Hearings

Friday, 29 September 2006

Stamford Plaza Hotel, Melbourne

Committee Members in attendance

Senator Humphries (Chair)

Senator Moore (Deputy Chair)

Senator Adams

Senator Patterson

Senator Siewert

Witnesses

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Professor Allan Hayes, Director

Dr Matthew Gray, Deputy Director (Research)

Dr Bruce Smyth, Senior Research Fellow

Australian Family Support Services Association

Mr Geoff Brayshaw, Founder

Ms Kathleen Ng

Council of Single Mothers and their Children

Dr Katrina Haller, Member, Management Committee

Ms Jessica Permezel, Project Worker

Wednesday, 4 October 2006

Parliament House, Canberra

Committee Members in attendance

Senator Humphries (Chair)

Senator Moore (Deputy Chair)

Senator Adams

Senator Siewert

Witnesses

Lone Fathers' Association Australia Inc

Mr Barry Williams, National President

Mr Jim Carter, Vice President

Law Council of Australia

Mr Ian Kennedy AM, Chairman, Family Law Section

Mr Denis Farrar, Treasurer and Executive Member, Family Law Section

Men's Rights Agency

Ms Sue Price, Director

National Council for Single Mothers and their Children

Dr Elspeth McInnes, Convenor

Ms Jac Taylor, Executive Officer

Professor Patrick Parkinson

Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Mr David Hazelhurst, Group Manager, Families Group

Dr Pamela Kinnear, Branch Manager, Child Support Policy Branch

Ms Allyson Essex, Director, Child Support Policy Branch