Shelley Argent’s letter to Campbell Newman

A sperm donor is not necessarily a legal parent in Australia. Equally, describing a man as a “donor” does not automatically mean he cannot be one. The answer depends on how conception occurs and, particularly with a known donor, the understanding behind the arrangement and what happens after the child is born. That distinction matters… Read More »Is a sperm donor a legal parent in Australia?

Sperm donors in Australia cannot be paid a fee for their donation. They can, however, be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. That distinction is the starting point for understanding what is lawful and what could amount to a criminal offence. Australian sperm donation must be altruistic. A donor can help someone have a child without… Read More »Paid sperm donation in Australia: is it legal?

Separation can leave de facto partners with an important question: do they have the same financial rights as a married couple? The short answer is that separated de facto couples have much the same rights as separated married couples, including access to property settlement and maintenance under the Family Law Act. There is, however, a… Read More »De facto property settlement: the 2-year time limit