Kane Fortelny started this petition

”He pays for his child, but isn’t allowed to see him. Where’s the justice in that? No visitation. No voice. Still paying. Still silenced. The law says he’s a father—only when the bill is due.”

My personal life has painfully revealed a broader issue that affects too many fathers in our society today. 

A relationship ended in separation, Viciously plunged into a custody battle.

Hit with a Family Violence Order full of false allegations that restricted me entirely from seeing my child.

It’s clear the legal system encourages this as they are served excessively without facts.

I believe steps like these are taken advantageously within a system that leaves fathers isolated, battling to see their own children.

A father works hard, pays what the law demands—child support, spousal maintenance—but still isn’t allowed to see his own child. He shows up financially, but is shut out emotionally and physically. He’s stripped of his role, his rights, and his voice as a parent. This isn’t parenting—it’s punishment. The legal system enforces payment without presence, leaving fathers powerless and forgotten. It’s time to demand fairness—not just for fathers, but for the children who deserve both parents in their lives.

“Fatherhood should be a Right, not a purchase.”

The system needs a complete overhaul and requires reassessing.

The courts overwhelmingly favor mothers in custody cases. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, recent data indicates that around 18% of custodial parents are fathers. This suggests that a significant majority of custodial arrangements still favour mothers.

According to studies, only one out of six custodial parents are fathers. 

Clearly, this imbalance is felt not only by several fathers but also by children who lose essential bonding time with their fathers.

Children can also experience negative effects such as emotional distress, behavioural issues, social difficulties, mental health issues and can impact future relationships.

Beyond personal grievances, this is a societal issue. Shared parenting, where both parents are allowed equal rights and responsibilities to their child, should be encouraged more in the legal system. This arrangement not only alleviates the pressure on the noncustodial parent but it is also proven to be beneficial for the child's overall development, according to the Psychological Association.

It's time to reform our Family Laws to give fathers a fair chance. This petition seeks to create a system that respects and acknowledges the importance of a father's relationship with his child, even in the event of a separation. It calls for laws to preside benignly over fathers, like me, who simply wish to remain a constant in their children's lives. 

The system rewards conflict, not truth.

To the dads still fighting, don’t stop.

To the woman using kids as weapons, stop.

To the system turning fathers into visitors, fix it.

Please sign this petition to help bring about much-needed change.