Updated 4.35pm, adds presentation of bill in Parliament

Cabinet has approved changes to the Divorce Act and a bill was later presented in Parliament.

The Bill was moved in Parliament by Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rosianne Cutajar and seconded by Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Robert Ablea said the Bill is intended to amend the conditions required to attain divorce.

“We are committed to address the realities that Maltese and Gozitan families are facing,” the Prime Minister said.

In October, Abela had said in Parliament the government intends to amend Malta's divorce law where it lays down that couples need to be separated for four years before filing for divorce.

"The Divorce Law is creating hardship and injustice for many people. I could never understand why one had to wait four years to get divorced after separation. Four years are an eternity in people's lives, what logic is this?" he had asked.

In a statement, the government said work on the Bill had required substantial legal work which analysed the details of the current law.

The Bill, it said, will reduce the pain and difficulties of people in this situation, including children. 

Family court needs reform - PN

Opposition leader Bernard Grech has said he is open to reassessing the four-year wait needed before a separated couple could file for a divorce. 

On Wednesday, he reiterated that and said that the Nationalist Party also wanted two other key reforms introduced.

The first concerned child maintenance payments, which Grech said should be calculated based on an established and transparent formula.

The second was reform of the family court, to ensure cases which affected children were concluded sooner, to minimise harm done to children. 

"A week without access to your son or daughter, or for a child not to see their mother or father, is a week lost," Grech said in Facebook post. 

In another statement, the Labour Party said that contrary to the Opposition, the government moved such legislation with conviction and not for political convenience.

The government, it said, will continue to bring about more changes and reforms in the interest of Maltese and Gozitans.

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