Six in 10 to pay less for children
By Misha Schubert
Political correspondent
Canberra
Non-custodial father Hugh Bathurst, a veteran of two marriage breakdowns,
holds photographs of his daughters.
Photo: John Donegan
Six in 10 separated parents - many of them richer fathers - would pay less maintenance but many on very low incomes would be forced to pay more in an overhaul of the nation's child support scheme.
The changes, recommended by a taskforce chaired by Sydney University law professor Patrick Parkinson, also propose a complex new formula for calculating child support.
This would be based on the real costs of raising a child - not on the income of the parent paying maintenance - and take into account both parents' incomes and the amount of time a child spends in each home.
Professor Parkinson said yesterday there was a compelling case for reform.
"The existing scheme is fundamentally flawed and cannot be justified," he said. "Arguments about money get in the way of the best possible arrangement for the children."
The taskforce has calculated the costs of raising children, and proposes a cap on payments at that level so people pay only child support, not maintenance for their former spouse.
Other changes would make it easier for men to start and support a second family after separation. Divorced fathers would be able to quarantine earnings from overtime or second jobs from their maintenance assessment - but only if the extra pay began after separation.
They would also be able to pay less maintenance to children from their first relationship if they have children with a new partner. Under the proposed changes, their child maintenance would be split to include any new children.
The convener of the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children, Elspeth McInnes, said child support payments would drop in most single-parent households.
"The non-resident parent is going to receive significant financial relief and the resident parent will not - that's not fair at all," she said.
But Lone Fathers Association national president Barry Williams was delighted, saying the changes would be more equitable for everyone. "It's going to be much fairer for all parties, including the children," he said.
The Government is expected to consider the proposed changes for several months.
PROPOSED REFORMS
- Non-custodial parents on the dole to pay $6 a week or nothing if they see
their child one night a week.
- Non-custodial parents with lowwage job to pay $20 a week for each child -
up from a flat $5 weekly fee.
- Greater powers for Child Support Agency to deduct regular amounts from bank
accounts and welfare payments.
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