De Facto may seek Spouse Maintenance - Page 2

**Hyper** · 11-12-2008, 02:48 AM

What's with these stupid laws in Australia all of the sudden? First the internet thing, not this.

**Hessah** · 11-12-2008, 02:58 AM

Yeah we had a change in government... This new government is more "family / people" based than the last one which was more "economic / business" based...

We don't actually have paid matunity leaves atm for to-be-mums thats working... and this new government was going to introduce like a 3-4 months paid leaves for mothers O_O

I think normally in other countries its about 2 months? 10 weeks...

It's nice they are introducing things for peole, but it seems like they're taking big steps in everything instead of a graduate change...

**Loveless** · 11-12-2008, 03:01 AM

And when you take big steps you're bound to trip and fall face flat. Going tad off topic but paid leave for that long? I get that they want to be family oriented but what's a family going to do if the company who is paying for maternity leaves goes under because of it? .__. No more jobs.

**Hessah** · 11-12-2008, 03:09 AM

Yup! Basically small businesses would be terribly crippled if that went through...

i forgot exactly how long they proposed the leave to be, but it was something rediculous.. not only do companies have to pay for someone that's not working, but they'll also have to pay for another person to replace them...

EDIT: Proposed length was 18 weeks maternity leave.. that's like 4 months...

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001021,00.html

Deoial · 12-07-2008, 04:58 AM

isn't this basically the same as a common law marriage only shorter time frame for it to be considered. i know a lot of states had a 10 year living together and you have common law marriage where if you split it has the same effect as a divorce. thankfully the state i live in has no common law marriage but if it has this law i may be screwed.. i lived with my girlfriend for 3 years

**Hraesvelg** · 12-07-2008, 10:37 PM

The vast majority of states that still recognize common law generally have requirements that you have to be living as a married couple, as in you have to introduce yourselves as husband and wife, etc, etc. Shacking up generally won't get you into trouble.

**Hessah** · 12-07-2008, 11:47 PM

Hmm yeah i think i read more than they said a De Facto relationship can be widely interpreted....

and part of it was whether people considered you to be in a De Facto relationship... sounds similar to what Hraevelg said...