Child Support Agency

Child Support and the Child Support Agency

Child support scheme - national financial disaster

Independent report details: High unemployment contributes to hidden costs of $3,700 million p.a. and children's weekly support payments decrease!

Reports of alleged Child Support Agency breaches - prepared each 4-6 weeks by
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 has ruled that the Georgia Child Support guidelines violate the constitutional rights of citizens.

CSA tells only 25% of the story!

According to the latest figures from CSA separated fathers are not so badly off as they think!

Watered down child support changes approved

On 29th June 2001 the Australian Senate debated and passed a very watered down version of the original Child Support Amendment bill.

CSA booed and jeered!
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:

Suicide victim 'hounded' over child support
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.

Labour and Democrat Senators reject CSA relief for payers!

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.
Change is essential to the child support formula
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 .
Child Support - Cost of Contact Study

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CSA - Budget Changes 2000
Update of the recent changes to Child Support legislation

Arndt comments on CSA Budget changes

"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".

'Problem' parents doing time
By John Stapleton - The Australian 8-9/4/00
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.
Letters to the Editor 11/4/00 The Australian

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.

Letters to the Editor - 14/4/00 The Australian

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

Child support reforms 'unfair'
Commentary from MRA:

Canberra Times article "Child support reforms 'unfair'"

DSS document - Policy & Legislation

Child payments: A-G's advice on jailing 'wrong'
by Aban Contractor Canberra Times 12/1/2000
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.

Children tell MP: agency stole their life savings
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.

My dearest children Bettina Arndt reports...
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)

Child Support Amendments - December 1998

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

SEVEN OUT OF TEN RESPONDENTS SAY IT IS OK TO WITHHOLD CHILD SUPPORT WHEN ACCESS IS DENIED! Posted 29/5/98
The Toronto Globe and Mail today (May 25, 98) buried a story on page A5 about a survey which the paper commissioned.

Coalition rejects Child Support Tribunal 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 Posted 4/10/97
Full list of proposed changes
Bettina Arndt "Wimping on Child Support"
Brisbane Meetings to discuss CSA changes

The Cost of the Child Support Scheme Posted 5/10/97

Richard Cruickshank's letter to the Sydney Morning Herald & Melbourne Age in response to the recently announced CSA changes.

Cabinet "Rolls" CSA Sub-Committee
Posted 30/9/97
D - day for the Partyroom meeting between the Cabinet and the CSA Sub-committee was today!!!

Update on CSA Changes
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!!!!

Update on CSA Changes
Posted 11/9/97
Cabinet discussion delayed until 15th September!

List of Federal MP's & Senators on CSA Sub-Committee
Posted 11/9/97 Some with e-mail addresses.

Changes to Child Support Legislation By Christmas?

Mal Brough, Federal MP for Longman says legislation should be placed before Parliament by Christmas!

To: mra@ecn.net.au

or write to P.O. Box 28, Waterford Qld 4133 Australia
Fax: (07) 3200 8769 Tel: (07) 3805 5611

Men's Rights Agency P/L ACN 063 925 566
A non-profit organisation helping men and their families

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