Child support dodgers our national disgrace

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This was published 12 years ago

Child support dodgers our national disgrace

The Child Support Agency – I’ve never been a fan. To recap why, here’s a post I prepared earlier.

My opinion hasn’t changed.

In 2009, the CSA had $795 million of maintenance in arrears.

As of 30 June, 2010, the total debt stood at $868.93 million, and a year later that total hit a massive $879.39 million.

Every year the total debt accrued by hopeless parents increases, despite the CSA boasting they are also increasing the amount they are retrieving.

And it’s your taxpayer dollars that will end up footing the bill, putting added pressure on our welfare system to pay for other people’s children as we rapidly head towards a $1 billion child support debt.

The CSA are quick to point out they successfully collected $108 million of outstanding maintenance in 2010/2011 by intercepting the tax returns of non-complying parents.

Firstly, it’s a travesty that a government agency has to initiate legal proceedings, garnish wages and cancel passports to make a person pay for their own children.

Secondly, those parents who knowingly shun the financial responsibility of their children should face more than just a politely-worded paper trail.

It’s time we got tough on those who might care to test the system and its systematic failings. Fare evaders face fines and imprisonment, yet maintenance evaders can go years before CSA even consider litigation.

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A friend of mine in the field of family law recounted a common attitude displayed by many separated parents.

“Whenever it comes down to money - they always view child support in terms of money that is going to an ex-partner. The rationale is never that its money going towards the upkeep of their own child.”

Anyone with kids will tell you they’re expensive little critters, and despite the fact I think kids these days are given too much, which in turn contributes to the financial strain on families, there is no disputing the fact extra mouths mean extra dollars are required to ensure the efficient running of a household.

Still, there are some who believe it is more important to go on an overseas holiday than it is to pay for their child’s dental, medical or educational expenses.

If you chose to bring a child into the world, you commit to providing for them. The marriage may have ended but your parental responsibilities haven't.

The true measure of a person can be seen by the measure of the sacrifices they make. When one parent fails to measure up and the burden falls solely on a single parent to provide for a family, there are more than just financial implications – especially for the children.

There are parents who give up their time, their careers and their every waking moment to attend music and dancing and sporting activities – even when the high-pitched squeal of a poorly-played saxophone makes them want to stick a pen in their eye.

Even when they’re so tired, the thought of getting back in the car to sit through a late-afternoon dancing lesson is as inspiring as cleaning the toilet.

And then there are the parents who develop a nervous twitch at the thought of sacrificing anything for anyone ... including their offspring.

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