EXEMPTED BUSINESS

EXEMPTED BUSINESS:

(Motion): Resolved,

That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 2. – [Mr Mah Bow Tan].

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WOMEN'S CHARTER (AMENDMENT) BILL: Debate resumed.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether the current Family Court Judges have any access to the children before the divorce proceedings. If so, then I rest my appeal. If not, then I would like to appeal again that the younger children get some access to counselling. If the Court Judges do not have access to the children, they will not be in the position to assess whether the children need counselling or not.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Clearly, Judges will not get involved until legal proceedings have begun. So, by

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definition, they do not have access to the children before a divorce has reached the Court. But having said that, what I am trying to point out is that there are many other avenues to get help, even before you reach the legal stage. We have Family Service Centres, we have school counsellors, we even have family violence centres and Marriage Central. The message is: "please avail yourself of the resources – the counselling and mediation facilities which are available in the community, even before you reach that stage".

The Member's point is about making it mandatory and my answer to that is that I prefer to keep maximum discretion available to the Family Court. That does not mean that I am discouraging people from accessing mediation and counselling facilities. My Ministry will continue to work with the voluntary welfare organisations to maximise counselling and mediation opportunities within the community.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Dr Vivian Balakrishnan].

Bill considered in Committee.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:

The Chairman: The citation year "2010" will be changed to "2011", as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement.

Clauses 1 to 18 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

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