Cost of living and housing push down Australian divorce rates
'The question we're hearing more and more is: Can either of us afford to live after this?' family law specialist Kylie Burke said.
'In 2025, we're seeing more disputes over school fees, medical costs and even basic shared-care logistics – because everyone is under pressure.'
Government data shows divorce rates in 2023 hit their lowest since the mid-70s.
The rate of divorce in Australia has decelerated over the past few decades but not as abruptly as the marriage rate. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards
In 1975, no-fault divorce was written into law, removing the need to prove adultery or desertion, meaning divorces could be granted because of irreconcilable differences.
Divorce rates fell by almost half over the next decade and have gradually tapered down since, as the overall marriage rate continues to dip at an even quicker rate.
In 1976, 6.3 people (aged over 16) per 1000 got divorced versus 13 people per 1000 getting married.
In 2023, 2.3 people per 1000 called it quits, while 5.5 per 1000 tied the knot.
Burke Mangan Lawyers partner Ms Burke said she was seeing more and more couples stay together because they could not afford to live separately.
Australian marriage rates have fallen about one-third since the turn of the century. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
'Dividing assets is just one part of the picture now – it's also about ensuring both parties can afford to live, support the children and plan for their financial future,' she said.
'With rents up 30 per cent in some capital cities and lending conditions tight, many people are being forced to stay under the same roof – even after they've split.
'The old model, where one person keeps the home and the other rents nearby, is increasingly off the table.'
Living together after separation was called 'financial flatmates' among lawyers, and 'fraught with emotional and legal risk'.
'It might feel like a short-term fix, but without proper agreements in place, they often lead to major conflict down the track,' she said.
Blair Jackson
Reporter
Blair's journalism career has taken him from Perth, to New Zealand, Queensland and now Melbourne.
Blair Jackson
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
Pokies giant Mounties accused of letting gamblers wager $140m in dirty money
The first licensed club group targeted by the nation's financial crimes intelligence agency is accused of turning over almost $140 million from 10 gamblers considered high risk of money laundering and counterterrorism financing. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has published court documents related to its Federal Court case against Mounties, the operator of 10 venues across Sydney's south-west, North Shore, and the Central Coast. The documents reveal Mounties' network of about 1,400 poker machines had $4.17 billion fed through them over the four financial years from 2019 to 2023. AUSTRAC is alleging in the civil suit that Mounties systematically failed to meet its anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financial (CTF) obligations, citing a sample of 10 gamblers considered high risk. "Mounties served innumerable customers without adequate controls," the financial crimes intelligence agency alleged in the court documents. "The Sample Suspicious Customers alone had turnovers in excess of $139,855,108 and payouts in excess of $10,464,856. "As a consequence of Mounties' [alleged] contraventions of the Act, the Australian community and Australia's financial systems have been exposed to systemic [money laundering and counterterrorism financial] risk over many years." Mounties Group, registered as Mount Pritchard and District Community Club, declined to comment. However, it issued a statement last week. "We are reviewing AUSTRAC's Originating Application and Concise Statement, relating to alleged contraventions of our obligations to maintain a compliant program and conduct appropriate ongoing due diligence of customers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act," it said. "We have been dedicating significant investment and resources to transform our AML/CTF capabilities since being notified by AUSTRAC of its concerns. Among the group's 10 venues is Mounties in Mount Pritchard, which consistently ranks as the licensed club with the most lucrative poker machines in NSW. AUSTRAC's chief executive, Brendan Thomas, said taking one of the most successful licensed clubs to court would send a message to other licensed clubs and hotels operating in the state. "This is the first time AUSTRAC has brought proceedings against a registered club. It is a chance for other pubs and clubs to check that they've got proper controls, that they understand what's happening in their own operations, and that they're doing everything they can to comply with the law," he said. More than half of the country's gaming machines are found in NSW. In the financial year ending in 2024, nearly 88,000 poker machines generated $8.4 billion in profit, according to a recent report from the state's auditor-general. The machines generated a further $2.3 billion in tax revenue. AUSTRAC provided a sample of 10 gamblers it considered high risk of money laundering or counter-terrorism financing in its court filing. It claimed they demonstrated at least one of the following markers of suspicious activity: Of the sample of 10 suspicious gamblers, AUSTRAC alleged Mounties identified eight of them and reported seven of them to the agency's chief executive. But it describes its compliance system as "not designed to enable Mounties to understand, recognise, identify, mitigate or manage the money laundering/terrorism financing risks posed". Mounties Group outsources its money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance program to Betsafe, a third-party used by other licensed clubs. Betsafe also declined to comment. AUSTRAC alleges Mounties' compliance program is not adequate to stop criminals from gambling with dirty money in its poker machines over four years. It also alleges Mounties customers could have engaged in a practice known as "bill stuffing," where cash is put into a poker machine only to be withdrawn as a cheque, with little or no game play taking place. Furthermore, it is alleged that customers could have paid other gamblers in cash for their winning vouchers, tickets, or credits; use multiple cashiers or terminals to avoid being observed by staff; and gain the trust of staff to get around being detected, or have to show their identification to collect their winnings. The civil case is before the Federal Court.
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Not allowed to complain': Aussies given working from home reality check
A hybrid office worker has divided fellow work-from-home Aussies after claiming that anyone who gets to work remotely isn't allowed to whinge about their job. Christy, a Sydney-based employee in the tech and sales industry, views being able to work from home as a privilege, having previously worked in industries where this wasn't an option. In a recent TikTok, the 26-year-old said if your job allows you to work from home 'even just one day a week', then you are 'not allowed to complain'. 'This is coming from someone that can also work from home,' she said. As she is in a client facing role, Christy typically only gets to work from home one day a week and, while her current job keeps her 'very, very busy', it doesn't compare to when she previously worked in retail, hospitality and real estate where she was always on the go. 'So I am telling you, if you work from home, just be grateful and you are not allowed to complain about your job. If you are complaining, quit. I don't want to hear it,' she said. Speaking to the 26-year-old said none of her previous jobs offered flexibility, noting 'you can't take someone's coffee order or conduct an open house from the comfort of your own home'. Christy is 'extremely grateful' to have the opportunity to do her job remotely, even just one day a week. 'Say I'm working from home on a Friday, that means I can wake up slightly later and do a later gym class because I don't have to factor in time to commute to the office,' she said. 'When I clock off I don't have to then sit in traffic or on a train, I can stand up from my desk and walk over to the kitchen and start cooking dinner instantly. You win an hour back from your day that would have been spent on commuting.' Christy's video garnered a lot of attention, being viewed more than 74,000 times and attracting just under 2000 comments. Many people agreed with the young worker's perspective, sharing their own positive experiences of being able to work remotely. 'I went from a social work job to a work from home job. I'm CHILLING. And my weekends are actually mine. And the appointments I can go to?!' one person said. 'After 20yrs in face-to-face retail, I am ridiculously grateful for my WFH life!' another wrote. A commenter who used to work in a hybrid role and is now having to be in an office five days a week said they missed working from home even one day a week, branding it 'such a game changer'. 'I get to WFH with flexible hours, SO LUCKY & would NEVER complain,' another said. One added: 'I do complain, and then I realise the incredible freedom I have and check myself.' However, not everyone agreed with Christy's take on working from home, with others not happy being told not to complain about their jobs. There were those that pointed out that, even though working from home was a positive, that didn't mean there weren't parts of the jobs that were whinge-worthy. 'Let's normalise being able to complain about work for any reason under any circumstance,' one person said. 'Absolutely not – as someone who worked in retail for 15 years and now works in a hybrid role. I'll complain about whatever I want thanks,' another wrote. Others claimed that then they work from home they are often working longer hours than they would if they were in the office. 'I work from home 5 days a week and logged off today at 10.30pm. I was rostered until 5 and didn't get a lunch break. Not everyone has this extra time and I don't have a moment to do washing,' one said. Another commenter claimed saying WFH staff can't complain is a 'privileged take', noting that being at home doesn't erase 'stress, burnout, toxic management, or financial pressure'. When asked about the divide in the comment section, Christy said she welcomed hearing the different perspectives, noting there is typically 'always going to be a loud minority who love to disagree or challenge you'. However, she thinks there may be a lot of Gen Zers who perhaps haven't experienced 'long hours of standing on your feet all day' in industries like hospitality, trades, healthcare and others and, as a result, take flexible working 'for granted'. 'No employer is obligated to offer WFH arrangements, so I think we should all be appreciative if that's on the table. It certainly wasn't for our parents' generation,' she said. Describing herself as a 'glass half full type of person', Christy said she would rather be grateful for what she has than focus on the negatives. 'While people love to complain about their jobs and work (especially with the rise of the anti-corporate culture), I'm grateful that I get to work, make a living & contribute in a way that I find fulfilling. And throw in a day from home, how can I possibly complain?' she said. 'Especially when I'm sitting on the couch in my sweats while my fiance (who is a tradie) is working a 12 hour day doing manual labour in rain, hail or in a 40 degree roof.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Melbourne tipped to lead 2026 property boom
Melbourne is set to lead the nation for home price growth in 2026, with new forecasts suggesting a typical home could surge almost $65,000. Nationally, house prices are only expected to increase by 4.5 per cent next year, according to the latest Residential Property Outlook from KPMG. Increases will be driven by improving sentiment, renewed investor activity and the growing likelihood of further rate relief. KPMG has updated its national forecast and named Melbourne as the top-performing capital in 2026, with house prices expected to rise 6.6 per cent — which would add $64,878 to the city's current $983,000 house price median, based on latest PropTrack home value data. It would equate a whopping about $178 a day. Melbourne unit prices in the city are also tipped to lift by 7.1 per cent, increasing the $609,000 typical unit's price by more than $43,000, and only surpassed by Darwin — with national growth only tipped for 5.1 per cent. KPMG chief economist Dr Brendan Rynne said Melbourne's property market was on the verge of coming out of its post-Covid slumber. 'We expect strong gains next year, particularly in the unit market, where affordability is much more favourable,' Dr Rynne said. Mortgage Choice Cheltenham's Rhys Elmi said demand in Melbourne was already picking up, especially among buyers trying to get ahead of future price growth. 'The people who were asking questions 12 to 24 months ago are finally acting,' Mr Elmi said. 'They know once rates fall, prices will rise, and they want to get in before that.' Mr Elmi said most borrowers were still choosing variable rates, even as fixed rates fell below 5 per cent. 'Ninety to ninety-five per cent of our clients are going variable,' Mr Elmi said. 'Everyone's expecting at least two more cuts over the next 12 months.' Arin Russell Property director and buyers advocate Arin Russell said high-income Western Australian investors had already begun shifting their focus to Melbourne, looking to cash in 'before the recovery accelerates.' 'They've had their Perth growth and now they're diversifying,' Mr Russell said. 'We're seeing people from Western Australia targeting Melbourne, some first-home buyers, some experienced investors, and they're chasing value.' In contrast, Perth's house price growth is forecast to be just 1.6 per cent in 2026, down from 4.7 per cent this year. It would mean an about $15,000 increase, with Mr Russell tipping worsening affordability and tight land supply to force buyers to look elsewhere. 'There's still demand in Perth, but it does feel like it's tapering,' he said. 'And the government hasn't kept up, they're too far behind to catch up now.' Sydney is expected to post $65,688 (4.2 per cent) house price growth based on its current $1.564m median and a $52,460 (6.1 per cent) lift in unit values next year, supported by strong employment and infrastructure-led demand. Dr Rynne said Sydney's sustainable growth was set to continue. 'The city offers world-class amenities, lifestyle, and job opportunities,' he said. In Brisbane, the $1.067m median house price could rise a more modest $33,000 (3.1 per cent) and units by $10,725 (1.5 per cent) from $715,000, after years of rapid post-Covid growth pushed the city out of the 'affordable alternative' category. Adelaide, which has led house price growth nationally this year, is expected to gain a more restrained $46,716 (5.1 per cent) from $916,000. A 3.7 per cent increase for units in 2026 would add about $23,000. Canberra's market is expected to rebound after a flat 2024, with house prices to rise about $46,000 (4.8 per cent) from $959,000. Units could be in for a 5.6 per cent uptick, worth about $33,000 when applied to today's $590,000 typical price. Darwin is tipped to outperform on the rental and investment front, with units set to jump almost $30,000 (7.3 per cent) for a $410,000 typical offering — the highest in the nation. The Northern Territory's typical house has been earmarked for a 5.1 per cent rise, worth $30,804. Hobart will record the slowest growth, with the city's $710,000 typical house price only likely to gain $12,000 as it rises 1.7 per cent. Its units will fare slightly better, with a 2.7 per cent increase likely to equate to a $15,687 rise for a $581,000 home.
