DASTARDLY DADS FROM THE ARCHIVES (Sydney, Australia - 2007)

Given all the pious handwringing we're seeing from the fathers rights groups these days regarding the evils of child "abduction" (at least when Mom is doing the "abducting"), it's interesting to note that just two years ago, at least one Australian fathers rights group was advising its members that the Christmas holidays were "an ideal time to take the children without consent because the courts are on a go-slow." A wee bit of hypocrisy?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/its-parental-kidnapping-season/story-e6freuzi-1111115210417

It's parental kidnapping season
By Clare Masters From: The Daily Telegraph
December 29, 2007 12:00AM

THE number of single parents kidnapping their own children is on the rise with hardline community groups advising fathers that government agencies are slow to act over Christmas.

There are nearly 200 parental abductions cases across the country every year and The Daily Telegraph understands that one single fathers' group is telling its members the Christmas holidays are an ideal time to take children without consent because courts are on a go-slow.

President of child abduction agency, Huko International, Geoff Day condemned the agency and said estranged parents often take children during the holidays - and do not return them after access visits.

Mr Day said custodial parents were frustrated because Australian laws were so outdated that it could take months to set a court date to get a recovery order.

Karen Morris, whose agency Inter-relate runs three of the Federal Government's new Family Relationship Centres, said long court waiting lists were part of the problem.

"The waiting lists in court are, and have been, an issue although they have started to come down," she said.

"Christmas is so emotive. Parents argue a lot over who gets the kids. That combined with (the fact that) some services aren't in full force does elevate the risk."

NSW has one of the highest rates of international child abduction and solicitor Sally Nichols, who deals with a number of these cases, said international cases in particular were a trend - with mothers the common culprit.

"International (abduction) is generally on the increase, and domestically it's chronic at this time of year," Ms Nichols said.

One single mother, who spoke to The Daily Telegraph yesterday, said she was told government agencies could do nothing to retrieve her daughter, who was taken by her father before Christmas, without a copy of the official court order.

But almost two weeks later she still had not seen the order and was unable to find a solicitor to take her case.

"He ended up bringing her back, but if he had not done that he would still have her.