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New South Wales - Legislation
Deserted Wives and Children Act 1901 (1901 - 1964)
- From
- 1901
- To
- 1964
- Categories
- Principal Act
- Website
- https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1901-17
The Deserted Wives and Children Act (17/1901) was 'An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to Deserted Wives and Children.' It was created to ensure men supported their wives and children. Deserting a wife or child was made a criminal offence in the Crimes Act 1900. Initially this Act permitted orders to be made for the support of wives and/or children; an amendment in 1913 permitted the granting of legal custody of children to a wife when an order for support was being made and allowed men imprisoned for failing to pay support to work while in jail. Further amendments were made in 1931, to prevent husbands being imprisoned if they failed to make payments due to unemployment or ill-health. Proceedings under the Act were heard in Children's Courts, and women who needed welfare support had to sue their husbands for maintenance before receiving aid. The Act was amended and updated in 1960 and repealed by the Maintenance Act 1964.
Publications
Books
- Weigall, Cecil Edward, Infants' custody, maintenance & protection acts, (N.S.W.) : being Deserted Wives & Children Act, 1901; Infant Protection Act, 1904; Infants' Custody and Settlements Act, 1899; Infant Convicts' Adoption Act, 1901; Destitute Children's Society Act, 1901; State Children Relief Act, 1901; Children's Protection Act, 1902; and Neglected Children and Juvenile Offenders' Act, 1905, and regulations thereunder, Law Book Co of Australiasia, Sydney, 1908, 270 pp. Details
Online Resources
- NSW legislation, Parliamentary Counsel's Office, New South Wales Government, http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/. Details
- History of the Children's Court [extracted from Blackmore, R., The Children's Court and Community Welfare in NSW, Lawlink NSW, 2009, http://www.childrenscourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/History%20of%20Children%27s%20Legislation%20in%20NSW.pdfhttp://www.childrenscourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/History%20of%20Children%27s%20Legislation%20in%20NSW.pdf. Details
- Blackmore, Rod, 'History of Children's Legislation in New South Wales - The Children's Court', in History of the Children's Court, Lawlink, Lawlink NSW, 2012, http://www.childrenscourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/History%20of%20Children's%20Legislation%20in%20NSW.pdf. Details
Photos
- Title
- Deserted Wives and Children Act 1901
- Type
- Document
- Date
- 1901
- Source
- NSW legislation
Details
Prepared by: Naomi Parry
Created: 9 March 2012, Last modified: 10 June 2021