There is little justice in the justice system even when justice is “seen to be done”. It can’t be relied upon and, even if resolved fairly, cannot undo the damage done. The courts seeming lack of compassion and common sense came as a shock.

The court eventually acted in favour of the more litigious parties (although directing the courts attention to the number and nature of the complaints lodged and their outcome in order to request an order restraining certain litigious and coercive behaviour did slow them down).

People were encouraged to lie/distort the truth more in affidavits and supporting documents than tax returns. Some of the tricks: perjuring himself, forging signatures (including signing for summons and other court doccuments meant for me), stealing and distorting the context of doccuments (including mail and discarded letters/bills/statements etc). Encouraged others to take part (including people I thought were on my side) and trying to build a rapport with those in positions of authority in an attempt to sway their judgement. Exploited precedents, tools and the system the court had in place in a way completely opposite to its original intent in order to stall, intimidate, misrepresent, inconvenience and financially cripple. Physically and financially tried to prevent me from appearing in court and blocked my access to support services. Incrementally undermined my position building one “compromise” upon the other until there was nothing left to compromise.

I went to court with my eyes closed and it cost me dearly. If I’d known earlier what I was getting into (and how to avoid it) I would have been better prepared, played my cards closer to my chest, sought better support services and hired a more knowledgeable solicitor. If I’d known I’d end up in court to start with I would have left the state (at the time it was legal as long as there were no pending court cases) and spared all of us the trauma (thing was that’s exactly what my intuition was telling me to do and I was talked out of it).

I don’t think making more changes to the family law will work, it’s too slow and self preserving. I think they need something like an inquest, we have the right political climate for it (it would be good to see a retired legal professional involved, might give the law a chance to redeem itself). I think we need to let the public know what’s going on, there’s too much shame, guilt and isolation being carried by people who weren’t responsible, and the media needs to ditch their hands off approach to family law as an entity and start taking real political risks again.