Who wants to be dictated to by the State on how you support your children — what, how and when?

Whilst many views float around arguing for and against child support, most decent fathers and parents would argue the issue is not whether or not they wish to support their children, but rather the often unfair conditions imposed upon them.

Simply, it's an attack on the nature of a father's freedom and how he best wishes to raise and support his children in the many different ways a responsible father can, which are often more effective and benefical to a child than any 'slap-bang' instrument of government and statism can ever be.

For a father going through separation/divorce, experiencing the loss of family and children, horrendous false allegations, litigation, uncertainty of where your children are and how they are doing, often causes ill health, work and life instability in so many ways. Also, the effects from not having a fully functioning and emotionally present Dad in a child's life can be equally, if not more devestating as their development can be hindered considerably.

Then if that isn't bad enough, along comes an assessment from the Child Support Agency (CSA) for an outlandish sum of money based on your capacity to work at the highest rate when you were fit and able and on fire, which is possibly a stark contrast to where your financial position is today, or will be in the future if you are unable to recover from the upheaval of a traumatic separation that's often compared to a fate worse than death.

From 2006 CSA powers in Australia have increased to not only garnish your wages, but directly withdraw from bank accounts any amount they deem appropriate, siezing assets of any sort to pay the often highly questionable and unjust debts. As Fathers are assaulted with such draconian measures, one can only feel a sense of dictatorship giving rise to a totalitarian society — not a free Australia — causing fathers to unite and fight for their rights and freedom.

As there are many issues surrounding child support and the effects upon fathers, children and families,

Share your opinion and experiences about the pros and cons of child support,
lifting the veil on a most horrid part of family breakup!

<Prev 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Next>1,559 - 1,510 Comments +Add Yours Over 987,969 viewsSearch CSA Forum
1
By: Ian King from QLD, Australia on January 2, 2017 @ 7:23 pm
Hi Mark,

The following web page will tell you how the Child Support Agency calculates the support amount :

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/working-out-child-support-payments-using-basic-formula

You can also use the following calculator :

https://processing.csa.gov.au/estimator/About.aspx

The biggest factors when calculating child support are your and your ex's Income, and the number of nights your child spends with you each month (the Child Care Percentage).

You are not obliged to go through the Child Support Agency, and can negotiate a Financial Plan with your ex instead if you both agree.

If you do not already have one, I would suggest you and your ex also draw up a Parenting Plan.

Take care
Ian




1
By: Mark from WA, Aus on January 2, 2017 @ 5:57 pm
Hi,
So the conversation had just been had between myself and the wife, Can anyone tell me how much I'm looking at in child support for a 3 year old boy?
I've looked at various sites but can't see a percentage etc?
Help?
9
By: AJ from W.A, Australia on December 31, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
My Letter to One Nation today:

To: Senator Pauline Hanson
Re: Changes to Federal Child Support Policies

Dear Ms. Hanson,
I write this letter to yourself because I have heard that your party may be reviewing child support practices and policy in future. I only want to give you an overview of my particular case, because at this time my two daughters are practically grown up, and I do not feel that I would have much longer to pay anyway.
Firstly, I believe that what needs to be exposed, and make public, is the direct effect that this particular government policy has on levels of male suicide in Australia. I know, because in the past, I have been close myself.
The past is the past of course, and cannot be changed. For me, this past has been me having my girls taken away without my knowledge, of being lied to consistently about both their location and their education and well-being, and of course numerous lies to my children, from their mother, about me and my family. This sort of behaviour has to stop.
My girls have been consistently moved around Western Australia, at one stage living with a man whose son had been dealing in class A drugs. My ex speaks of the inconsistency that I have brought into the lives of my daughters, and yet she is the one who has always taken them away.
For me, all of this culminated at the end of 2016, when my eldest daughter of 17, deliberately lied to my face regarding times and dates of her high school graduation. This was later put on social media, to portray me as a “Uncaring Bastard”.
Finally, more recently I was happy to sign some paperwork so that my ex-wife could take my girls to Japan for a holiday in 2017. After signing, I have found out through various sources that the CSA have the ability to block my passport, so that I am unable to go on holiday. Where is the fairness in this?
In the past, I have approached several media outlets about this, such as A Current Affair. But it seems that they only want to talk about “deadbeat dads”.
I hope that One Nation can restore some balance to this equation, if not for me, then for all other fathers who have lost their children to this system
Yours sincerely,

10
By: Bernard from New South Wales, Australia on December 30, 2016 @ 9:19 pm
My fellow gentlemen:
May we bid farewell to this miserable year. I personally am looking forward to 2017: to a year without CSA garnishing my wages, to a year without fighting with my gloomy bitch of an ex, to a year without any court dates, to a year of not paying lawyers fees, to a year of not paying court fees, to a year of not being harassed by CSA, to a year of enjoying life, to a year of living life, and perhaps (god willing) to a year of discovering true love with a kind woman. My ex has moved on and now has a brand new baby to go with her brand her husband- perhaps some of us gentlemen also will be given the chance of a new beginning.
May we all receive the blessings we deserve come the end of the worst year ever 2016

AMEN
4
By: Steve from WA, Australia on December 29, 2016 @ 10:58 pm
As said on here before. Each parent in the split should then be resonsible for contributing to the kids when the kids are with them. Instead of the system now where one parent pays to raise the living standard of the other parent. Also the ridiculous system of the kids being kept from the parent who also happens to be the paying parent, usually the one that actually wants the kids to be a parent not for a pay check. The parent that was not the cheating scumbag in marriage. The automatic rule of the mum gets the kids and everything is goverment endorsed child abuse and abuse of the parent with good intentions.I expect this not to change for another 100 years.I wish I was wrong.
1
By: Corey from South Australia, Australia on December 26, 2016 @ 9:49 pm
And btw, if your tired of talking to women at the CSA, ask to speak to a man, if they ask why say "for religious reasons". Under the Australian constitution they are not allowed to ask question your believe or your religion.


Time to give the CSA HELL!
4
By: Corey from Sa, Australia on December 26, 2016 @ 9:43 pm
What if we all just said to the CSA.... "we're not paying any more" seems there may be a lot of us. What are they going to do?
1
By: Prostaa from Vic, Australia on December 26, 2016 @ 1:00 am
Hey Guys, I would be happy to host a session for a group to share and discuss. I think we could all put some input to helping each other out. We could use a premises in Fairfield. Call me or email me so we can get some numbers and set a date.
All welcome.
0412357135
Costas2501@gmail.com
2
By: Prostaa from Vic, Australia on December 26, 2016 @ 12:46 am
Hello Oscar, please call me as I would like to discuss how you represented yourself and what argument you put forward.

0412357135
4
1550. By: SG66 from WA, Australia on December 26, 2016 @ 12:40 am
Charlie,
we are all with you mate.
Call me for a chat if you need to.
Happy to help and work out how to get some fairness back in the system with you.
We are all going through the same horrible shit.

Shane
0419 926 521
5
By: Trevor Watson from Nsw, Australia on December 25, 2016 @ 9:55 pm
Hey Charlie you are not on your own brother there are many of us experiencing these extremely deep challenges. Please feel free at any time to contact me at any time. I am someone who directly understands your circumstances as I am in it too. My phone number is 0401665736. Change your attention brother there is much more amazing things in this world to put your attention towards.
7
By: Charlie from Victoria, Australia on December 25, 2016 @ 7:17 pm
I'm not one to use Nasty words but fuck csa and there employees I've been dealing with these fucks for so long now I'm over it they have bleed me dry they don't reason they don't care they keep telling me it's legislation well fuck the legislation us father's are the ones that pay and we don't need the csa yelling us how much to pay our loved ones I'm sure we know what it costs to raise children why do we need these fucks to dictate to us how to raise children ,no one out there doesn't seem to listen and this csa crap will never go away, these fuckers have pretty much put me in debt now and when I call them to get some help with reduced payments they just want to put me on a payment plan but not reduce the ammount I pay a month and the silly fuck at csa said to me it's just another bill yoy have to pay well go and get fucked ill stop work and paying tax and fall on new start so you fuckers can support me and pay me instead,sorry for the harsh words people but I'm just letting my frustration out on these parasites ..
5
By: SG66 from WA, Australia on December 25, 2016 @ 1:54 pm
Dave,
call me for a chat mate your not alone, we are all going through this disgusting system, lets do it together.
I'm here if you need to.
Anyone else as well.

Shane
0419 926 521
3
By: Dave from Vic, Aust on December 24, 2016 @ 9:08 pm
Can we get a spport group happenin for broken down fathers? After many yrs my heart and soul is brroke
6
By: Shell from Vic, Australia on December 23, 2016 @ 10:36 pm
To All you wonderful Dads.
I have seen your pain and I feel your pain. I have watched my husband go through this for the past 15 years. Why do you think the government shut down csa offices you can't talk to anyone face to face. It is just a paper trail with no one being accountable. Typical government department full of shit, Lies and make it up as you go because we can't see their faces and if you Phone back that person miracousley dissappears. We don't see my step kids anymore as they thought it was a challenge to look through our paperwork and treat their dad like shit. He cried in front of them and they couldn't care less because we got a restraining order on their mother. They couldn't understand that you do this for no good reason. They have changed their names to their stepfathers but we are still paying csa. I am so angry that this is allowed if they change their name why should we have to pay. We found it easier to cut ties and get on with our lives as much as it hurts it was affected our 2 children as well as our relationship. The whole system sucks I'm a woman and if there was a CSA office I reckon I walk in and flatten someone. It's so easy to tell so many sob stories and turn on water works over the phone.
Thinking of you all over Christmas, shit time of year anyway everyone is hypercritical and Ferrell. Stay Strong but keep in updating politions with letters. WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS SYSTEM
4
By: SG66 from WA, Australia on December 23, 2016 @ 9:59 pm
STAY STRONG EVERYONE!!!

I know it's a really shit time of year.(Call or text me if you need a chat or a venting session over Christmas, my number is below, happy to chat.)
I'm not able to see my 4 young kids at Christmas but we will have our own Christmas when I see them.(under supervision because of the vexatious X)
Stand up and change your pain to a positive!!
Be mad as fuck'n hell, I am however I'm using my pain and grief to ruffle the feathers of the establishment (the powers that be)
So far after my emails to the minister (and other politicians, Pauline Hanson's is below) for so called human services I've had a councilor call and someone from the CSA.
Now I'm told I'm getting a call from the Attorney Generals office to discuss my concerns.
All I did was spell out the truth to them and what they are doing to us as fathers and parents and the child abuse that they are creating and forcing onto our innocent children.
Copy here of what I sent

Your killing us faster than the road toll!!!

Hi Pauline

Can’t believe the family court system and the court system in general and how a woman (wife) can steal all your money and cover it up with a VRO and then play the system with lies and manipulation.

It’s a long story but to say my 4 young kids are pawns and weapons used to try to drive me to suicide I’m sure is her hope to cover up what she did.

The lawyers say there is nothing you can do as she got the VRO first. That ruined my business and my life (as I working from a home office).

Just found out in WA you can get a VRO now if you have a fear of someone. Don’t need proof.

I managed to get my kids off the VRO but she is still on it and now she has made application to the family court of a notice of child abuse or family violence. Never was any violence.

I cannot believe the lies and the twisted half truths that she can say and get away with it.

What can someone do to help me and all the other poor men that are killing themselves because of this system.

There are some sites like this but it’s mainly venting about the system .

http://www.f4joz.com/

Please help us Pauline

Shane from Perth

0419 926 521
1
By: gary from qld, au on December 23, 2016 @ 8:36 pm
Corey I am with you we all need to stand up and fight the system I for one am not paying another cent to them, if they want it they will have to fight for it like we do working for it.
1
By: Oscar from SA, Australia on December 23, 2016 @ 7:11 pm
Colin in Qld

mate it could have a massive effect on your payment. If you want to give me your number, I will give you a call and give you some guidance and advice. I have just been through this, and appealed CSA decisions all the way to the Federal court based on something very similar.
4
By: Corey from SA, Australia on December 22, 2016 @ 10:57 pm
I have no sympathy for woman working in the CSA who are aware of the problem and sit back and do nothing but make excuses saying it's policy and there's nothing they can do about it. It's wrong what the CSA is doing and they are an accessory to its crimes. If you think it's wrong what they do then stand up, or quit. Just sitting back and taking the money tells me they are just as a big a parasite as many of the wemon leaching of men by using the system. Why are there so little men working CSA, is this what we call equality or do men have more morals?

It's time to get angry, it time to take up pitchforks. Let the backlash begin.
6
1540. By: greg maund from Queensland, Australia on December 22, 2016 @ 8:58 pm
guys.
this will eat u up. the csa are doing a job, purely a debt collection agency.
they are good people, usually ladies working, same as you and me. they know us dads are getting shafted by the ex's, they do know what is happening and they can't do anything, they are bound by legislation.
don't vent on them it's not their fault, they didn't make the rules, they don't like the rules, but they have to work. They are not ex's bumming off welfare/govt handouts.
SO WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN
dads need their daughters and sons, and our daughters and sons need their dads. my old man sorted me out, my dear mum, mothered me. Without my dad kicking my ass when I needed it I would not be where I am today, without my mums mothering I would have missed out on the motherly love.
THE KIDS NEED A MUM AND DAD..divorced, separated don't matter, but they need a mum and a dad.
THEY need you to rise above CSA, be the dad. This icon on here is bullshit, kids don't need support, my kids need their dad, their mum is hurting them for purely financial gain, they are a asset first and foremost to her.
You guys know that nobody loves their kids more then their dad. We are the strength when trouble rises. Nobody touches our daughters and we teach and show our lads how to be tough, we show them how to be a mate, we always tell them to look after each other, show respect. look after the girls.
We tell our daughters how to look after themselves, we are their rock.
I went through hell and fire with csa and family courts. accused of being violent/abuse/sexually abusing MY OWN KIDS, all was so much lies..the court looked at me like i was a mongrel dog, ex got legal aid, family reports..two years later. two years too late, the court and family reports saying i was a good dad..too late the ex had 2 years to poison the kids minds..
NOW.
The best advice I got was from this little old lady solicitor.."your ex wife is a bitch, keep in contact with your kids, birthdays, xmas..keep in contact..
I did.
THEY ARE BACK.
I'm a alpha male. U know I thought about topping myself I got that damn depressed..ME..thinking about giving up..damn..thats how tough it got.
BUT MY KIDS ARE BACK. finally they grew up realised their dad was always there.
DON'T GIVE UP..RISE UP ABOVE THE FKIN LEGISLATION..
kids need their dads..hang in there.

Greg



8
By: LAT74 from WA , Australia on December 22, 2016 @ 6:23 pm
Hi to all the dads who won't be seeing their children this xmas. Child support payments to one side, I'll have unwrapped presents under the tree again this year. Good luck to you all, thinking of you.
2
By: barry from nsw, oz on December 22, 2016 @ 5:26 pm
yeah darren c sounds like a case of no accountability by X unless kids are exaggerating or wanting/needing dad's concern. Does she have any addictions ie. gambling, drugs, drinking, personal shopping/over beautification or living the good life habits or perhaps blowing it on the boyfriend? These types of situations require scrutinisation of receipts/invoices before any money handed over especially when kids are going hungry. make a new agreement with csa on this basis or be prepared to take her ass to court. maybe negotiate a different payment arrangement with her direct without csa. few thoughts
3
By: darren curro from old, australia on December 22, 2016 @ 10:18 am
WHY IS IT I PAY 1300 PER FORTNIGHT CMS AND MY CHILD RING ME UP AND SAYS DAD WE HAVE NO FOOD IN THE HOUSE AND ARE WAITING FOR HIS HALF BROTHER TO GET PAID SO THEIR MOTHER CAN GO AND BUY FOOD , ANOTHER DAY RINGS ME UP AND SAYS THEY HAVE NO SCHOOL BOOKS CANNOT GO TO SWIMMING LESSONS BECAUSE HE DOESNT EVEN HAVE TOGS TO WEAR WHERE DOES ALL MY MONEY GO ?????????? AND ANOTHER DAY GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE EXS BOYFRIEND ASKING WHERE HIS MAINTENANCE IS AS THEY HAVE BILLS TO PAY WHEN I NEVER MISS A PAYMENT NOT HAPPY
4
By: rob from WA, Australia on December 22, 2016 @ 1:27 am
Hi, Ok so after 11 months of arguing about percentage of care with CSA and them making me pay the 100% rate the AAT ruled in my favor so now its back to the 14% my care rate. The issue i have is now if i go back through the paperwork they have sent me i have over paid $5700 due to them imposing the higher rate which now has been ruled against. how do i get a credit for this?? arsehats
3
By: barry from nsw, oz on December 21, 2016 @ 3:31 pm
would never enter any agreement with csa col. you will be like a fly in a spider web. today 1400 down the track 1800 and when not working 2200... who knows what how and when.. all madness. once agreement formed you can be stuffed unless you terminate. get doh direct to kids welfare or X and make conditional upon seeing kids or whatever suits your position. whether mum works, centrlink or on drugs don't matter squat. my few cents worth. good luck pal and merry xmas to all
2
By: Colin from Queensland, Australia on December 21, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
Hi all. I pay and am happy to pay app $1400 month for my two kids but this leaves little left to try and start again financially. My ex has stopped working (not sure why) but I wonder what this will do for the assessment. Anybody been thru something similar. Thanks in advance
3
By: A from VIC, Australia on December 20, 2016 @ 10:01 am
Corey, I think you are on to something there. We have Work for the Dole, so we should also have Work for the Child Support. :)
3
By: Sam from QLD, Australia on December 20, 2016 @ 9:35 am
I am just learning about all of this as we head into the arrangements of my partners childcare agreement. What I think the main issue for us is that we are wanting the children more, but the ex is preventing that, which then means our payments will increase. She also refuses to work and is so entitled to everything. There should be a clause that if the mother is preventing the children from seeing their loving father that they are not entitled to claim more financial assistance.
 
By: Will from Qld, Australia on December 20, 2016 @ 4:48 am
WTF?? Any one else read that ?? Ok hmmm who wants in on the spell thing ???
5
1530. By: SG66 from WA, Australia on December 19, 2016 @ 9:31 pm
Question with out notice!!
Who isn't able (aloud) to see their kids over Christmas?
Me and who else?

Let us all know...
6
By: Corey from Sa, Australia on December 19, 2016 @ 4:06 pm
Child support should consider a 'Parasite Policy', any ex partner with 50% care now living with another partner and refusing to work should be considered a parasite and not given any child support.

Further more these people should be investigated and punished as criminals. Yes... I believe in jail time for women for marriage crimes.
2
By: A from VIC, Australia on December 16, 2016 @ 9:52 pm
Congratulations, Oscar!!
6
By: Oscar from SA, Australia on December 16, 2016 @ 7:16 pm
so for those that have followed my story along, I finally had the Hearing before the Federal Circuit Court (after appealing the decision from the AAT, after appealing the 2 x CSA decisions).
The CSA was represented by private lawyers, and flew special counsel in from out of state to defend the action against me - an unrepresented litigant.
I could only appeal on a "question of law". Anyway, Hearing was last week, at the end of which the Judge invited the CSA to file further submissions to a point I had raised.
Today - I get an email from the CSA's lawyers informing me that they are conceding, and the matter will now go back to the AAT.

Who said we cant win if we are right .....happy days !!
1
By: Rob from VIC, AUST on December 16, 2016 @ 1:42 am
SG you need to chill out... I've been there, get them both out of your life and out of your thoughts. You are a much better person than either of them.. Like the song says.. let it be. The best you can hope is your children come back to you..I had 3 out of 4 come back.. Never give up.
4
By: Bb from Wa, Australia on December 16, 2016 @ 12:05 am
In csa reform is it not possible to put a price per child. And or credits at grocery stores clothing stores schooling etc making sure the money is spent on children
My reasoning behind this is
1 what makes a child worth more than another just because someone earns more surely that is descrimination to all children in seperated families.
2 this may encourage more couples to sort out their issues rather than take the easy path (I know that doesn't apply to all seperations)
3 the amount of money the tax payer / government will save getting rid of over half of all csa employees.( and watch them try make it in the real world )
4 we all know the money doesn't go to the children most is spent by the ex for the ex
5 everyone then knows where you stand straight up eg 1 child $100 per week 2 children $150 per week 3 children $175 . These are just random figures as an example. This makes all children equal no matter how much the payer earns.
Once the relationship has ended everyone has to make the most of the cards they are delt.
Not rely on the ex ,s salary
Just thinking out load
Furthermore if for any reason a child chooses or is not made to see the paying parent then the payment amount goes down, this will then encourage the ex to make sure the child continues a relationship with the other parent so they get the benefit of the Cs
Obviously It won't work for all situations but there will still be checks and balances in place to sort out the crap some people will spin

7
By: SG66 from WA, Australia on December 15, 2016 @ 11:20 pm
Hi everyone,

well fuck me where do I start!!

Ok, let me tell you about our fantastic CSA system and our wonderful government/judicial system.

1. CSA dosen't believe you even with your evidence to prove her lying again..
2. If you look like a silver back gorilla and she looks like a fairy you must be the violent one.IT'S that simple!!

3. Well fuck me the big silver back hay?? I was fucked before it even started.

4. I know my 4 kids love me they tell me every time I see them at the supervised visits (every second weekend supervised for 3 hours) when they ask , can I come home with you please Daddy.I love you....Breaks my heart every time to see them have to go back to the manipulating Witch.
5. I hope this can help someone else!! I have been played since 2010 and set up for this shit.(turfed out when I asked to many questions in 2016 and on our 16 anniversary)... Well planed and excited with help from a (friend) that she convinced over the time I was a monster.
Yes a friend, my best one, I was his best man twice and he was the god father of my kids (first 2)
She worked on him for the past 5 years planing all this. Poison, poison, poison, until he believed her.
Wasn't I Blind?? I thought he was my mate , you know looking after me and being impartial when needed between my wife and I.
Was I fuck'n wrong?? I was done over by them both working together, he told me I was a bad father because she said, what the hell ever?? He believed everything she said.
6. Now that their deceptive conduct was complete I was screwed.
You know what shits me as well as all the other crap?





2
By: Rob from VIC, Aust on December 15, 2016 @ 8:16 pm
Nice start A. Also include removal of late penalties. There may be a number of legitimate reasons why a payment is late and the payer should not be punished. Also, currently the penalty money goes to the state, why should the state profit from someone struggling? They call it "Child Support", that itself is theft by misrepresentation.
1
By: JamesR from vic, aust on December 15, 2016 @ 9:14 am
Don't ever give up...
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-gregory-smith/8098334
2
By: Brett from SA, Australia on December 15, 2016 @ 7:47 am
From fathers being shafted in 1963 nothing much seems to have changed hence i wonder what we as ordinary fathers are doing wrong

3
1520. By: A from VIC, A on December 15, 2016 @ 5:24 am
Although it would be a laborious task, I suspect politicians will not be able to change the current child support policies unless they have an alternative policy, therefore we should create some alternate policies that could appeal to the broader community. I actually emailed One Nation about helping them to develop an alternate policy but received no reply. Perhaps I might try other means of contacting them.

There are a lot of problems with the current system. The bottom line is that taking money from someone without their consent is theft. People may argue that this harsh treatment is justified as punishment. However I believe we can make a sound argument that child support should not be punitive. Separated fathers are already suffering from loss of contact with their children, this is adequate, natural punishment. Family breakdown is a tragedy and the government does not need to apply external punishment to make the situation undesirable because it already is. One change we can request of the system is to ensure it is not punitive.

Another problem is the desire to equalise the economic advantage between households. This means if the father earns more he still has to pay even if there is 50 percent contact. This imposes a sort of communistic arrangement on the separated couple, where the right to private property is diminished for the paying parent. We can see where this comes from, men, in general, are the providers in a relationship. The law is saying that the man must continue to perform this role in the relationship after it has ended. Yet, women are not required by law to continue any contributions which they made to the relationship after it has ended. Further to this, since it is a principle of the child support regime that men are providers in relationships, we should naturally conclude that a consequence of forced providing to an ex-partner will impair a man's ability to be a provider to a new partner and to form a new family. It follows that the current laws restrict a man's ability to form a new relationship, and naturally there can be harsh psychological consequences for this.

There are other angles on payment despite 50/50 contact, there really are a lot of reasons why it is wrong. For example, it ignores the fact that a higher income generally relates to a higher level of economic productivity. It may be because of additional work hours, it may be because of years of hard earned experience in a particular field, but the fact remains that the higher income is not some random stroke of good luck, but something that is a result of personal effort. The current system penalises men who have made the effort to increase their earning capacity by inflicting higher rates of child support on them.

Another important problem with the current system is the ease at which women can apply it on their ex-partners. There is no requirement for the separated couple to work out arrangements between themselves as there is, for example, in the UK. The availability of the CSA to women as a personal debt collection agency simply gives them excessive leverage in what should be a family discussion about what is a reasonable level of ongoing support.
 
By: Robo from VIC, AUST on December 14, 2016 @ 11:29 pm
JT I agree with you, a petition would be a good idea.
2
By: Jenna from QLD, Australia on December 14, 2016 @ 8:35 pm
Hi All,

Writing to find out if anyone has been in a similar situation. My partners child support money may have been used for criminal activity. She has been convicted and is serving time. Can he get this back etc ...

Wow some of your stories are heartbreaking :(

DJ I hope someone somewhere is supporting u.

Jenna
3
By: DJ from WA, Aust on December 14, 2016 @ 7:36 pm
I've been divorced for over 5 years now and in that time I've been in and out of work, depressed and suicidal.
My ex earns much more than me and I signed all assets over to her, the family home etc so the kids would always have a roof over their heads. CSA doesn't take any of this into account. Over the past couple of years I have had periods of no income and being homeless so I couldn't even see my kids. I am now just getting back on my feet and seeing my kids but have a CSA debt of $10000, how does this happen when I had zero income for about 6 months and then on Centrelink income for a while until gaining employment earlier this year. All this while the ex lives in the home we built together with her new partner an investment property and a new car. I just keep afloat paying rent etc and CSA still takes money from me
3
By: Rick from W.a, Australia on December 14, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
I agree with the need for change. Its not fair that even though we have 50/50 custody i still have to give the mother of my child money, simply because she doesnt have a job! Something has to be done. I dont know about everyone else but i work bloody hard for what i earn , and would have no problem handing the money over if it was to benifit MY child not the other 2 siblings!! Enough is enough!!!
3
By: JT from WA, Australia on December 14, 2016 @ 5:15 pm
Thanks Trevor, I am another one having similar experience....BTW when one of my 2 kids I am paying for (no contact) turned 13, the need increased 200 AUD per month, overnight. Well, ok, but when one of the kids living with me turns 13, I will pay only 50 AUD less still with no change in my salary. Clearly, what proof is needed that this is biased? Payees kid cost supposedly double to raise from 13 onwards...
Anyway, what I wanted to say is there is a web called change.org that can be used to petition for our thing. We would see what support we have if well worded (would draft that yet I am not EN native speaker). We could agree on the wording here, include examples, goals (one of them to be e.g. to have CSA release stats on their "clients" suicide rate or such..). If you followed the Red Pill movie screening that has been initially shut as its about these very issues we discuss here had a huge success getting the support. There is so many people like us affected, big power, waiting to be heard.
Just an idea. Stay strong,
JT
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By: Bb from Wa, Australia on December 14, 2016 @ 2:48 pm
Csa have just sent me a adjustment to my Cs and want me to pay $599.85 per week for 1 child and my take home pay is $691 per week plus I have a wife and four kids at home. My protected amount is $365 per week. How will I ever get rid of a Cs dept that is totally unjustified. I've been paying Cs for 14 years and never missed a payment. Now Csa believe I earn more than I do, if that's the case I should be investigate by the ato for fraud right? Oh no the csa is more powerful than the ato and they don't care that I'm a law abiding, tax paying, Cs paying father who has 4 other kids to help support. My 4 kids are worthless to the csa. Anyhow I'm in the shit up to my neck. Thanks for the merry Christmas csa
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By: Robo from VIC, AUST on December 14, 2016 @ 2:43 am
Well said Trevor. I also lost my health to a life threatening disease that has left me partially disabled and medical evidence was ignored by CSA. In fact I submitted an estimated income and received a letter saying "We are satisfied that your actual income will be higher than your estimate" and billed me about an extra $400 a month more than I should have been paying. Do they have superpowers to see into the future?, I think not!!. It is an absolute abuse of law by public officials. If the Senators do nothing maybe we should start a legal class action with thousands of angry mothers and fathers.
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By: DJ from WA, Australia on December 13, 2016 @ 7:24 pm
Trevor thanks for sending your letter. My story is very similar to yours and many other on this forum. I to lost my capacity to earn a wage after becoming depressed and gave up everything for the sake of my children. I hope something can be done to help us all and prevent more parents heading into the darkest place.
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By: gary from qld, au on December 13, 2016 @ 7:19 pm
well said Trevor.
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1510. By: Trevor Watson from NSW, Australia on December 13, 2016 @ 12:33 pm

It is far too simplistic to lump any parent into the “deadbeat” category to justify extorting from these Citizens. Most of us desire to financially support, love and share our lives with our children and our Communities. Unfortunately, the present system does not enable these parents to do so. It simply creates greater separation, parental alienation, too much accountability on the lower care-time parent and it provides a means for one parent to lever a government agency to crush the lives of the other parents. Our future Australian Citizens (our Children) are growing up with unresolved internal conflict as a result of this negligent Government behaviour.

We are asking that you acknowledge the negative impact that this system is having on the fabric of our amazing society. We are asking you to represent our crying-growing minority who are taking their lives as a result of these unwarranted govern attacks on our Citizens.

Thank you for your attention
Mr Trevor Watson 13/12/2016