The Coalition will offer bipartisan support for stronger Australian government action against Japanese child abductions, as Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the pain that Australian families are experiencing as “immense”.
at least 82 Australian children had been taken by their Japanese parent since 2004. Dozens have disappeared without ever being able to contact their Australian parent again. Under Japan’s sole custody laws, one parent has total control over the child – including the ability to hide their location from the other parent and cut them off from visitation.
The issue is highly sensitive for the Australian government. Canberra is attempting to balance its relationship with Tokyo, its most important economic, military and diplomatic partner in Asia, at the same time as it manages its duty of care to Australian citizens who have lost contact with their children for decades.
Catherine Henderson and Japanese upper house Councillor Mizuho Umemura in front of Parliament House last week.“They discussed Japan’s consideration of family law reform, and Australia’s support for an approach that allows for shared parenting,” a spokesperson for the foreign minister said. After years of quiet diplomacy, the Australian government has become increasingly active in recent months in pushing Tokyo to enact reforms on what has historically been viewed as a domestic policy issue.
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