Child Support Agency - Australia
The Men's Rights Agency (MRA) has helped many men dealing with the CSA
Call us to find out how we can help you.
Assistance is directly available from MRA with Child Support Agency
problems, emergency housing, employment, friendship and suicide
prevention.
The Parent’s Guide to Child Support published by the Child
Support Agency (CSA) - Australia
If you are new to the issues regarding paying child support, you
should read the The Parent’s Guide to Child Support.
The Parent’s Guide to Child Support is an ongoing reference guide for
separated parents. This booklet will assist you to better understand
your rights and responsibilities and the services available to you
following separation.
The guide includes information on:
- How child support payments are calculated
- Child Support agreements
- Common terms and definitions
- Payment options
- When and what changes you need to let us know about, and
- Support services available to you and your children.
Download - The Parent’s Guide to Child Support - Child
Support Agency (CSA) - Australia PDF (1.7M)
Child Support Agency (CSA) - Australia Parent's Guide to Child Support
webpage
Child Support Agency (CSA) - Australian Government website
The CSA has numerous publications on their website for parents,
children, young people, indigenous people, employers, lawyers,
corporations and their annual reports and Child Support Agency
statistics.
The Child Support Agency (CSA) - Australia publications webpage
CSA - Australia and Child Support - In the News
MRA News July/August 2008 - Monday, 8th September 2008, by Sue Price
Government assault on separated fathers One could be forgiven for
thinking the Government has declared war on separated fathers. In the
past month the media has confronted us with banner headlines generated
from media releases issued by the Minister for Human Services, Senator
Joe Ludwig.
More...
Child Support - Proposed Schedule for Reform
MRA News - Tuesday, 7th March 2006, by Sue Price
After Joe Hockey put his foot in it the other week, or gave an honest
appraisal, depending on which camp you are in, by announcing child
support reform would not be looked at until after the next election
(2008), the new Minister for Families and Community Services Mal Brough
released a program telling us how the Government intends to implement
the Parkinson Child Support Reforms over the next three years.
Apart from a sweetener to reduce the cap income on which child support
is determined from $139K to $104K, there is little of any joy to paying
parents in the schedule for July 2006 or January 2007. Much of the
immediate reform revolves around giving the Child Support Agency more
powers to investigate and chase after reluctant payers. Real change will
have to wait, just as Joe Hockey warned, until July 2008. Mind you, we
have another election to go through and there is no guarantee the
Coalition will succeed again in retaining power. If they are ousted,
will Labour honour the proposed changes? We doubt that they will.
The UK Parliamentary Committee notes can be read on this website.
More...
Report of the Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support - 2005
In the Best Interests of Children - Reforming the Child Support Scheme
Report of the Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support PDF
West Australian - Saturday, 14th May 2005, by Margot Lang
The Child Support Agency, which began 15 years ago with high ideals, has
turned into a costly bureaucratic nightmare which has failed to achieve any of its
objectives.
Every dollar the CSA collects for child support costs
taxpayers $5.58.
More...
Independent report details: High unemployment contributes to hidden costs
of $3,700 million p.a. and children's weekly support payments decrease!
Men's Rights Agency from the numerous individual complaints brought to the
attention of this organisation.
Georgia, U.S. rules Child Support null and void!
(March 1, 2002. Nashville, Ga.) Superior Court
Judge C. Dane Perkins of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit ruled that the
Georgia Child Support guidelines violate the constitutional rights of
citizens.
Georgia, U.S. Court rules Child Support null and void!
Georgia USA Child Support case - Childs Support Null and Void Court Ruling
of the ruling (1.7MB)
Georgia USA Child Support case - economic
exhibits which are part
of the ruling
According to the latest figures from CSA separated fathers are not so badly
off as they think!
On 29th June 2001 the Australian Senate debated and passed a very watered
down version of the original Child Support Amendment bill.
A report from an observer who attended a Child Support Agency Information
Meeting held at the Camden Civic Centre on Thursday evening February 1, 2001.
Canberra Times, Wednesday 15/11/00, RODERICK CAMPBELL
It was "a tragic indictment of the system" that a Canberra man had committed
suicide holding a letter of demand from the Child Support Agency, the ACT
Coroners Court was told yesterday.
Would you ever vote for them again? Think carefully when the next election
is called!
The Senate has rejected most of the changes contained in the child support
legislation that would benefit paying parents.
Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 13/11/00
It will be a tragedy if the current moves to change the child support
system are thwarted in the Senate, writes Bettina Arndt.
Update of the recent changes to Child Support legislation
"How absurd was media speculation that changes to child-support arrangements
introduced in the federal budget were due to last-minute lobbying by angry
dads."
Seems Bettina Arndt prefers to diminish the contribution made by dads and
dads groups to bring about some changes to the CSA, in favour of academic
endeavour. Does she really believe the Government would have bothered to
change anything if CSA complaints had not featured at the top of the
list of complaints dealt with by each federal politician? Does she really
believe the research to which she refers would have been undertaken without
the level of complaint? Ms Arndt, I think you give too little credit to the
"power of the people".
The Australian, 8-9/4/00, By John Stapleton
Attorney General Daryl Williams wants to jail more mums and dads who defy
family law. But as John Stapleton reports, critics say it is the system that
is at fault.
The Australian 11/4/00
From Men's Rights Agency :"For too long people suffering as a result
of family separation have been kept away from the public gaze.
Two letters from fathers who cannot reveal their identity, but who
are able to define the problems with the child support scheme.
The Australian, 14/4/00
An Appeal on behalf of the Family Court by the Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson
National Council of Single Mothers and their children - Elspeth McInnes
Partners of Paying Parents - Alison Pearce
Commentary from MRA:
Canberra Times, 12/1/2000, by Aban Contractor
Attorney General Daryl Williams has been accused of deliberately misleading
a Government Senator over plans to jail parents who fall behind in child-support
payments.
Canberra Times, Saturday 8/1/00, By KATHARYN HEAGNEY
Four Queensland children have written to their local Member of Parliament
claiming the Child Support Agency ' stole' their life savings to help pay
their father's $43,000 child-support debt.
Bettina Arndtreports...
The Howard Government is trying to make life easier for non-custodial
fathers. But the Family court seems to be working in the opposite
direction. (Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 16th January, 1999)
(posted 18/1/99)
Since the long-awaited, disappointing changes to child support were accepted
by the Senate (December 1998) we have been inundated with queries, especially
for the start dates. Here they are, together with a brief summary of the
changes. Posted 13/1/99
The Globe and Mail, ( Canada's largest national daily newspaper ) May 25, 1998, buried in a story on page A5 about
a survey which the newspaper commissioned.
posted 19/5/98
Child Support Amendment
Bill reaches 2nd Reading Posted 21/4/98
Fathers force PM to review child
support The Australian 17/4/98
Graeme Campbell's speech to Parliament
2/4/98
Tony Smith's speech to Parliament
2/4/98
Cabinet over-rides Sub Committee wishes and
approves only limited changes to CSA
MRA News - 4/10/97
Brisbane Meetings to discuss CSA
changes
MRA News - Posted 5/10/97
Richard Cruickshank's letter to the Sydney Morning Herald & Melbourne
Age in response to the recently announced CSA changes.
MRA News - Posted 30/9/97
D - day for the Partyroom meeting between the Cabinet and the CSA Sub-committee
was today!!!
MRA News Posted 24/9/97
Progress of Cabinet discussions re CSA changes and Party room response. More
to follow on Thursday!
NOTE: Partyroom meeting postponed from 25/9/97 to Tuesday 30/9/97 to give
Ministers time to consider their position!!!!
MRA Posted 11/9/97
Cabinet discussion delayed until 15th September!
MRA News - Posted 11/9/97 Some with e-mail addresses.
MRA News - Autumn 1997
Mal Brough, Federal MP for Longman says legislation should be placed
before Parliament by Christmas!
Liberal MP slams Child Support Agency
Hansard - Wednesday, 4th August 2004
By Alby Schultz MP Member for Hume
Items from Alby Schultz's website and two Hansards (4 & 5 August 2004)
http://www.albyschultz.com.au/news/default.asp?action=article&ID=150
Thursday, 5 August 2004
Schultz slams Child Support Agency over handling of c >...More
CSA Taskforce Report Released (Summary)
>...More
How the Child Support Agency will Cost Taxpayers $40 billion
Dads On The Air - Monday, 4th August 2003
Helping The Government Manage Their Responsibilities:
How the Child Support Agency will cost taxpayers $40 billion over the
next decade
With Special Guest Richard Cruickshank, head of PIR Research
The closing date for submissi >...More
Child Support Agency on Defensive
The Age - Saturday, 28th June 2003
The controversial Child Support Agency is defending its handling of
threats of murder, suicide and assault from disgruntled clients, saying
not all warrant referral to police. >...More
Alan Jones Replies:
The Today Show/Alan Jones Breakfast Show 2GB - Monday, 5th May 2003
By Alan Jones
Look, I normally answer all my correspondence personally. You won’t
believe this, but in light of the editorial I did on Channel Nine, which
I repeated on Radio 2GB, I have been inundated with letters on this
issue. All saying the same thing. You want a f >...More
Paternity Fraud - Appeal for funds
PATERNITY FRAUD
Paternity fraud victims in Australia and around the world will benefit
from
The MAGILL judgement -magill v magill 22nd November 2002 at the
Victorian
County Court MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA.
>...More
Father's Life Rocked by Boys' DNA Tests
The West Australian - Saturday, 12th April 2003
By Julie Butler
Beefy Perth tradesman "Len" wanted to lie down and die when he found out
this year his two boys were not his biological sons. The DNA test
results didn't stop his love for them, >...More
The Despised Child Support Agency: A Social Disaster
Dads On The Air - Monday, 31st March 2003
By Sydney 2GLF FM 89.3 9am-12.00
Child Support Agencies were first created by the Bolsheviks after the
Russian revolution of 1917 as a way of funding the Bolshevik attack on
the nuclear family. The Bolsheviks regarded the family as a fundamental
unit of capitalism to be destroyed. The Ru >...More
Legal Minefield for Deceived Fathers
The Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday, 29th March 2003
By Leonie Lamont
During an interstate access visit, and a trip to the Melbourne Show,
Bill told his 14-year-old son he was going to take him for an allergy
test.
The test was in reality a DNA parentage test, to establish the
likelihood of Bill being the bo >...More
Two Families, One Divorced Dad and Not Much Cash to Go Around
Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday, 28th November 2001
By Lee Glendinning
Andy Thompson says the idea that divorced men who remarry earn enough to
support their second family is completely misleading.
Mr Thompson pays $185 child support a month to his first wife and two
children and says he struggles to raise th >...More
Second-Marriage Fathers Not So Poor
Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday, 28th November 2001
By Adele Horin
The perception of divorced men being impoverished by child-support
payments is challenged by a study that shows many are as well off in
their second families as they were with their first.
Some divorced fathers have complained they are una >...More
Parental Payments Cost '3 Lives a Day'
Canberra Times - Sunday, 19th November 2000
By Megan Doherty
As many as three men a day are committing suicide because the nation's
child-support system is driving them over the edge, according to the
Lone Father's Association Australia.
Association President Barry Williams said the claim was not ba >...More
Support Payments 'drove man to suicide'
Canberra Times - Sunday, 19th November 2000
By Megan Doherty
"You've pushed him to the grave," ex-partner tells CSA officer
Queenbeyan woman Kate Gibbs is convinced the pressure of making child
support payments while being unable to build a new life of his own is
what finally drove her former partner to comm >...More
Suicide Victim 'hounded' over Child Support
Canberra Times - Wednesday, 15th November 2000
By Roderick Campbell
It was "a tragic indictment of the system" that a Canberra man had
committed suicide holding a letter of demand from the Child Support
Agency, the ACT Coroners Court was told yesterday.
Barrister Richard Thomas said the receipt of the lett >...More
Change is Essential to the Child Support Formula
Sydney Morning Herald - Monday, 13th November 2000
By Bettina Arndt
It will be a tragedy if the current moves to change the child support
system are thwarted in the Senate, writes Bettina Arndt .
The latest attempt to reform child support is in trouble, with Labor and
Democrat senators refusing to pass key >...More
Bringing Home Benefits for Distant Dads
The Age - Thursday, 18th May 2000
By Bettina Arndt
How absurd was media speculation that changes to child-support
arrangements introduced in the federal budget were due to last-minute
lobbying by angry dads.
The truth is very different. Many of the changes stem from the 1994
report from th >...More
'Problem' Parents 'doin Time
The Australian - Focus Section - Saturday, 8th April 2000
By John Stapleton
Attorney General Daryl Williams wants to jail more mums and dads who
defy family law. But as John Stapleton reports, critics say it is the
system that is at fault.
Once upon a time, Frank played professional sport and was married with
two y >...More
Child-Support Reforms 'unfair'
Canberra Times - Saturday, 26th February 2000
By Frank Cassidy
The promise of fairer child-support rules has been dashed by an unfair
and restrictive regulation enforced by the Child Support Agency,
according to the Men's Rights Agency.
The law was changed last year to, among other things, allow payin
>...More
Children Tell MP: Agency Stole Their Life Savings
Canberra Times - Saturday, 8th January 2000
By Katharyn Heagney
Four Queensland children have written to their local Member of
Parliament claiming the Child Support Agency ' stole' their life savings
to help pay their father's $43,000 child-support debt.
The children, aged between nine and 15 years, sa >...More
My Dearest Children
Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday, 16th January 1999
By Bettina Arndt
The Howard Government is trying to make life easier for non-custodial
fathers. But the Family court seems to be working in the opposite
direction.
Bettina Arndt reports...
If you are male, working long hours to support the family b >...More
Wimping on Child Support
Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday, 2nd October 1997
By Bettina Arndt
Tuesday morning it was front-page news. The Melbourne Coroner heard the
sad story of a man who hanged himself in a police cell after two years
of being denied access to his three children. One more victim adding
weight to the continuing public concern abo >...More
Fathers Force PM to Review Child Support
The Australian - Sunday, 17th January 1988
By Richard McGregor
John Howard has agreed to review child support payments after a
backbench campaign on behalf of fathers angry about the present system.
But the Prime Minister protested on Cairns radio yesterday when
announcing that the Government was stud >...More
DSS Document - Policy & Legislation
>...More