that "children have the benefit of both of their parents having a meaningful involvement in their lives, to the maximum extent consistent with the best interests of the child". Many however argue that such an arrangement actually works against achieving this, and today continue to push for further reform. In the last decade not one Australian father has been given equal parenting access in any case reported on the Austlii website. Instead judges applied the McInstosh-Chisholm doctrine that sought to limit time children spend with children. This approach has now been debunked by academics, even though never challenged by any family court judge. Property and financial outcomes Australia is an equitable distribution country, meaning that on divorce or death of a spouse net wealth is not split evenly (50/50) as community property. Instead courts have wide powers, taking into account 27 or so statutory factors, to determine what a "just and equitable" division of wealth would be. The vast majority of outcomes result in a division of 55-65% in favour of the wife, or economically weaker spouse, before payment of legal fees. This process is not without its critics: on average the wealth re-allocation process takes between 2 years, or for the more wealthy, up to 4 years. Property Settlement Under the Family Law Act a court can make orders dividing the assets, liabilities and superannuation of spouses, and other related orders. The court must approach the decision according to the "4 step process": ascertain the assets, liabilities and superannuation of the parties; assess the contributions that each party made to the asset pool; assess the relevant factors set out in section 75(2), often referred to as the "future needs" factors; consider whether the outcome is "just and equitable" and make any relevant adjustments. The relevant date to ascertain the property "pool" is at the time of trial, not the time of separation. Contributions made to the relationship include financial contributions (eg. income, inheritances, assets held at the commencement of the relationship), non-financial contributions (eg. unpaid labour, assistance running a business) and parenting and homemaker contributions (eg. domestic duties and care of children). Contributions as homemaker and parent are not presumed to be of lesser value than financial contributions. Section 75(2) ("future needs") factors allow an adjustment to be made between the parties to take account of particular circumstances. Common relevant circumstances include the care of children, a disparity of