Fifty years of divorce without fault

Included among the more than a dozen grounds for divorce were adultery, drunkenness and non-consummation.

The “faults” that prompted divorce in the 1950s included drunkenness and non-consummation. Source: The Conversation / ABS Year Book for Australia 1956

When Australians divorce now, they’re older — 47 years for men and 44 for women — reflecting increasing age when marrying and longer duration in marriage.

Most Australians believe marriage isn’t necessarily a lifelong thing, reflecting widespread acceptance of divorce. But marriage remains an important aspect of our lives.

Fewer brides and grooms

Religion no longer dominates marriage, with most weddings officiated by celebrants. This trend has continued since the late 1990s. In 2023, more than 83 per cent of marriages were conducted by civil celebrants, not a religious minister.

While most children are born to married parents, the proportion has changed substantially over the years. In 1971, 91 per cent of births were to married parents, declining to 60 per cent in 2023.

The paradox of choice

Many Australians now won’t achieve their desired family size because the barriers to having a much-wanted child, or subsequent child, are insurmountable. Financial and social costs of raising a child while juggling housing affordability, economic insecurity, gender inequality and climate change are just too high.

Changing expectations and norms concerning coupling and childbearing have enabled greater empowerment for Australians to choose whether they marry at all. Women especially benefit from more progressive attitudes towards remaining single and childfree.

The costs of divorce

Novel child-centred approaches to family separation are most successful where relationship breakups are amicable. Around 70 per cent of separations and divorces involving children are negotiated among parents themselves.