Inkwel 1998/November
Child Support

I'm sure most of you have noticed what has been going on in the media about single mothers - and it is about mothers, single fathers barely rate a mention. It appears to be part of a general backlash against women who are stepping out of the 'normal' boundaries.

Unfortunately, it is not restricted to the media. Politicians have also picked up on it and policies are being changed to reflect what they see as a trend. The Prime Minister has even suggested making single mothers work for their pension, as if raising kids is not work anyway. This is an idea lifted straight from right-wing talk back radio shock-jocks, and has no benefit to anyone involved - not mothers, nor their children, nor society as a whole. It would not even be economically rational as it would cost more money in things like child care.

One of the biggest changes that has been taking place is in the Child Support Agency. The Joint Select Committee on Certain Family Law Issues looked at the operation and effectiveness of the Child Support Agency and tabled its report in December 1994. The previous Labor government responded to 53 of the 163 recommendations, and the current government has addressed the remainder. Fortunately, not all the recommendations were implemented, or at least not in full, because some were draconian in the extreme.

One of the things that stands out strongly with many of the recommendations made, and those that have been implemented, is that they appear to have been pushed through by very vocal men's rights groups. The responsibility of non-custodial parents has been reduced, while it has been made more difficult for custodial parents to collect outstanding monies. Problems of how to assess or collect payments from those who are outside the PAYE system have not even been looked at. This is an increasing problem, especially given the move to individual work agreements and outsourcing where more people move outside the system by becoming contractors rather than employees.

WEL has been lobbying to try to have these anomalies addressed. The Registrar of the Child Support Agency has a series of panels at both state and federal level, which meet a few times a year to discuss how best to implement policies. Unfortunately, the panels have an overabundance of men's groups on them and less representation by women's groups. As women are normally the ones who have care of the children on a daily basis it would make more sense that they had the greater representation. This needs to be immediately rectified, and I have been negotiating with the CSA to have this addressed and for WEL to be represented on the panels.

We have also requested the CSA that WEL be involved in any consultation process that occurs on policy issues. It is very important that women are included in discussion on policies that are going to affect them and the well-being of their children so strongly, and I have been assured that WEL will be included in any consultations that take place.