Spousal maintenance in Australia is not an automatic entitlement. Instead, it hinges on specific criteria, focusing on the need of one party and the financial capacity of the other to provide support. Eligibility typically involves demonstrating that one partner cannot adequately support themselves due to various reasons like caring for children, age, health issues, or a lack of earning capacity. Simultaneously, the other partner must have the financial capacity to provide support. This balance of needs and ability to pay is a cornerstone of spousal maintenance decisions in Australia.