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Key Points
- Single mothers say the child support system fails to support victims of domestic violence.
- Perpetrators often exploit the system by minimising their income or falsely reporting time with children.
- New research reveals over $1.7 billion is owed in child support debt which campaigners call a national crisis.
Single mothers have graded Australia’s child support system an “F” as domestic violence campaigners call for reform to stop it being weaponised by perpetrators.
Minimising income and falsely reporting time spent caring for kids are some ways the system is exploited — often to inflict financial and psychological harm.
Swinburne University of Technology professor Kay Cook’s research found most women entering the system were leaving violent relationships and the system should be designed with that in mind.
“Child support needs to put the needs of victim-survivors first,” she said.
Child support and other government services exploited by domestic violence perpetrators are under review following a National Cabinet meeting last month aimed at fast tracking an end to gender-based violence.
A rise in violence has spurred federal and state governments to act, with more funding earmarked for better services and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelling it a national crisis.
The 700 single mothers surveyed for Tuesday’s report broadly considered the child support system a failure when it came to exemptions, collecting debts and complying with the rules.
Nearly four in five single mothers were experiencing violence at the time of separation, only to be stuck interacting with their violent ex-partners through the child support system.
“When women try to do what the system demands — by collecting payments — they face an increased risk of violence,” Cook said.
Only one in 10 women had applied for an exemption from seeking child support on the basis it may lead to violence, with many unaware a failure to do so could lead to trimmed family payments.
Paying child support to single parents first and chasing up missed payments as a second order priority was suggested by the researchers as a better system.
Removing the link between family payments and child support was also recommended.
Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty said the child support system was ripe for reform.
“Violence relies on coercive behaviour, the use of systems, and threats to establish and maintain control,” she said.
Batty will meet with federal ministers responsible for child support on Tuesday alongside fellow domestic violence campaigner Jess Hill, Single Mother Families Australia chief executive Terese Edwards and a number of single mothers.
“The data is clear — the child support system is not only failing, but it is being used as a tool of abuse,” Edwards said.
“With nearly $2 billion in private transfers going unaccounted for and over $1.7 billion in child support debt, this is a national crisis that demands urgent attention.”