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Source: ONE News -
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Separated parents are welcoming proposals to crack down on those not paying child support.
The government is considering a raft of changes to the child support system, including assessing the income of both parents when it comes to deciding the amount of support to be paid, and taking individual family circumstances into account.
Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has released a discussion document,
Supporting Children, outlining wide-ranging proposals for
change.
In total, parents currently owe about $2 billion in unpaid child
support and penalties, something the Minister wants to get under
control. And a massive quarter of the amount owing - $500,000 - is
by parents now living in Australia.
Amongst the proposals is a determination to do more to track those parents down and force them to pay their way.
Mother of three Cindy Martin says she hasn't received any child support for 15 years.
She says fathers should be chased up.
"If they did pay up that would help heaps. In these times it's hard. The kids are getting older, they demand more, labels, they want all this and that. And because it's coming from me and nowhere else it's a lot of pressure to provide them with those sort of things."
Another parent ONE News spoke to says the current one-size-fits-all approach is unfair.
John Smart shares the custody of his two children. He pays about $150 a month in child support to his ex-partner.
"There are a number of different circumstances for each family which don't get looked into," said Smart.
The Minister recognises that in 2010 families now are often more complex.
"The law is 20 years old, social conditions have changed. I think in some areas it's unfair and some areas it's inflexible," said Dunne.
He said both parents are more likely to be working and separated fathers often have a greater role caring for children than in the past.
Right now, earnings are only assessed for the parent liable to pay support. But that could change if recommendations to take into account the income of both parents is approved.
"In some cases it is taking too much off the contributing parent. In other cases it doesn't provide sufficient support to the caring parent," said Dunne.
Other proposed changes include automatically deducting child support from a parent's pay packet if they don't pay up.
And thousands of dollars worth of late fees will be wiped if parents start paying in full and on time.
"Too often the penalties get to be so substantial that people can't pay and either go into hiding, throw their hands up in horror or just refuse," said Dunne.
"An important part of getting the scheme right will be creating a situation where paying parents are more likely to comply with their obligations voluntarily.
"They are more likely to do that if they see their obligations as fair, transparent and reasonable - and not based upon some formula that seems to have no regard for their individual circumstances."
Commission welcomes flexibility
The Families Commission says the review of the child support scheme is an opportunity to put the needs of children at the centre and to support changes that help couples maintain their parenting relationship during and following separation.
Its research shows that separating couples who are able to co-operate on parenting and put their children's needs first are more satisfied with their care and financial arrangements than those who have arrangements imposed on them by the court or the current child support system, said Chief Families Commissioner Carl Davidson.
"More importantly, outcomes for children are much better when a co-operative parenting relationship is maintained."
The Commission said census data shows that 21% of households with dependant children are single-parent families, and one in four children live in a sole-parent family at some point in their lives.
Davidson said overseas experience shows that where the liable parent sees the money going directly to their children, rather than into a government department, they tend to be more involved with their children and payment compliance improves.
Parents will get to have their say on the whole child support
issue with submissions closing on October 29.
What do you think of the proposals to change the Child
Support system? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentNCP said on 2011-08-21 @ 13:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
What Id like to know is what happens if the custodial parent CHOOSES not to work. Ie, they are not on the DPB as their partner/new wife or husband supports them financially. Does that mean that the NCP has to 100% support the children even though the CP is effectively choosing not to work? There should be a minimum wage applied to the CP's imo to negate the CP's who will do anything to make their ex pay for all costs involved and are fundamentally lazy. And yes, these CP's are out there
ElBastado said on 2011-03-28 @ 00:09 NZDT: Report abusive post
Most of the issues Ive had have been with IRD themselves. The ex put in for child support as has financial difficulties, while I was supporting my child, they bought a car. I work nights to support my child and myself, I provide just on 40% of nights but nearly 70% of day care. Ive shown I paid for all my childs expenses and have my child for more than the ex. The IRD say my info is to confusing so have refused to fix despite the fact Im a custodial parent and struggling, over a year now.
shadowman said on 2010-11-14 @ 17:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hi I am a paying parent in australia and I can understand why some parents choose not to pay. ie they may earn 27000 au dollars ayear gross but they have to pay child support to nz of 27000 plus exchange rate which takes this up to 34000 per year thats 7000 dollars of invissible money. and we have the same bills over here. We pay morgages, rates,power, Water, plus 7 to 800 dollars a year just to drive a car. Child support should be on what you receive after tax.
LynnetteNZ said on 2010-09-08 @ 13:11 NZDT: Report abusive post
"good on those guys who go and get a new life"...what about the children! they are the silent sufferers in all of this. Aren't they deserving of your love, your time, your patience and all the great things a father can give to a child. About time you stopped the hatred towards your ex and realise you are both at fault and stop putting the children in the middle.
JimBWarrior said on 2010-09-03 @ 17:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
It is nonsense to keep fidling with so called Child Support until NZ Family Law and Social Policy is undergirded with real **Equal Parenting**. Paying so called Child Support is funding the destruction of your own FAMILY and empowering the STATE to do just that to others.