- Separated parents dodge child support payments by moving overseas
- Courier Mail
- 27/12/2008 Make a Comment (2)
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
TWENTY of the nation's worst deadbeat dads have fled Australia, each owing an average $200,000 in child support.
New figures show more than 14,000 separated parents are dodging $97 million in child maintenance by living overseas.
The majority, nearly 8000 of them, are living in New Zealand, Child Support Agency figures reveal. Another 3300 have fled to Britain, and 2280 to the US.
The international absconders each have average debts of $6400 while their kids miss out back home.
But the 20 worst child support dodgers owe a whopping $4 million to their Australian children.
Australia also is a haven for overseas child support dodgers, with nearly 9000 men living here despite debts of $120 million to support children living abroad.
Jo, not her real name, said her ex-partner was working in the Middle East as a financial adviser but claimed he earned only $25,000 a year.
She said she was unable to get more than $20 a week from him to support their 12-year-old daughter.
"He writes to my daughter about his marble staircases and his car and driver," she said.
"He's got a senior management-level position but he maintains he is on a McDonald's-level wage."
The CSA's manager for international operations, David Mole, described overseas maintenance debt as a massive problem.
"In cases where the paying parent is outside Australia, the CSA has limited control over the collection process," he said.
"Enforcement systems in some overseas countries are not always as timely or effective as those in Australia.
"As a result, there is often a considerable delay before regular child support payments are received, if at all."
New data-matching between the CSA and immigration authorities is being used to stop parents with a child support debt from leaving the country.
Federal Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig has warned separated parents thinking of travelling overseas to make sure they pay their maintenance debts first.
"If you can afford an overseas holiday, you can afford to financially support your children," he said.
"The travel ban will be lifted when the outstanding money is paid in full or the parent makes a satisfactory arrangement to pay the debt off over time."
The system, introduced this year, already has paid dividends, with one parent paying $100,000 after being issued with a departure prohibition order.
New figures show more than 14,000 separated parents are dodging $97 million in child maintenance by living overseas.
The majority, nearly 8000 of them, are living in New Zealand, Child Support Agency figures reveal. Another 3300 have fled to Britain, and 2280 to the US.
The international absconders each have average debts of $6400 while their kids miss out back home.
But the 20 worst child support dodgers owe a whopping $4 million to their Australian children.
Australia also is a haven for overseas child support dodgers, with nearly 9000 men living here despite debts of $120 million to support children living abroad.
Jo, not her real name, said her ex-partner was working in the Middle East as a financial adviser but claimed he earned only $25,000 a year.
She said she was unable to get more than $20 a week from him to support their 12-year-old daughter.
"He writes to my daughter about his marble staircases and his car and driver," she said.
"He's got a senior management-level position but he maintains he is on a McDonald's-level wage."
The CSA's manager for international operations, David Mole, described overseas maintenance debt as a massive problem.
"In cases where the paying parent is outside Australia, the CSA has limited control over the collection process," he said.
"Enforcement systems in some overseas countries are not always as timely or effective as those in Australia.
"As a result, there is often a considerable delay before regular child support payments are received, if at all."
New data-matching between the CSA and immigration authorities is being used to stop parents with a child support debt from leaving the country.
Federal Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig has warned separated parents thinking of travelling overseas to make sure they pay their maintenance debts first.
"If you can afford an overseas holiday, you can afford to financially support your children," he said.
"The travel ban will be lifted when the outstanding money is paid in full or the parent makes a satisfactory arrangement to pay the debt off over time."
The system, introduced this year, already has paid dividends, with one parent paying $100,000 after being issued with a departure prohibition order.
Source: https://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24844568-421,00.html
Given the ammount of custody I have I cant understand why I should still have to pay the lazy mother. Why should I be punished for her laziness.
CSA seems to believe this is fair, I can't see how they come to this conclusion.
As far as I'm concerned, once custody reaches 50/50, then neither parent should have to pay as both parents are doing their part to support the children when they are in their care. But when they force the parent with majority care to pay the other parent, I just can't understand how they can justify this as fair.
The Collection of Money is the CSA prime Objective
and while is says all of The people that owe them money are criminals,and are treated like criminals from the first contact with the CSA
The CSA and their CEO David Mole are criminals
David Mole must be jailed for forcing hundreds of Australian men to suicide see Warren Gibbs & the CSA(google)
There is No presumtion of Innocence in the cSA.They can & do,take your rent out of your Bank account .Criminals!we need a royal Commision NOW before they murder any more innocent men
For proof please read about Warren Gibbs,and lets get these criminals in jail where they belong
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