"'Problem' parents doing time"
Letters
11/4/00
Letters to the Editor
The Australian
For too long people suffering as a result of family separation have been
kept away from the public gaze. Your newspaper deserves praise for bringing
the heartache and tragedy of those who unfortunately find themselves as
clients of the Family Court and Child Support Agency to the fore. ('Problem'
parents doing time - Focus, 8-9/4/00)
It was refreshing to read member of parliament, Roger Price's honest
comments relating to the true purpose for the existence of the Child Support
Agency. He is right - it has nothing to do with "the best interests of the
children" - it is far more to do with balancing the government coffers and
recouping some of the money spent maintaining the children of divorce and
separation.
It is about time this government realised, just as it should do with the
"stolen generation" that it has to accept responsibility for current and/or
past policies and practices that have been allowed to flourish virtually
unchecked in the hands of our bureaucracy.
Policies across many areas of government have supported the concept of
separation and divorce. In doing so they have encouraged parents to leave
at
the first sign of trouble with their relationship. Instead of trying to
resolve the problems, they collect a sole parent's pension, remove their
children from the safety of an intact family and accept the government as
defacto parent and defacto partner for the payment support it provides.
Many Australian families struggle to survive financially, so there is little
reason for the government to expect that one low income can be divided to
support two separate households, that of the mother and the father and the
children, of course.
Unfortunately for the taxpayer, when government policies take us in a
certain direction that proves disastrous, someone has to pick up the tab
and
accept responsibly for the actions of governments' that we have voted into
power and allowed to remain in power.
Sue Price
The above letter has drawn a threat from an anonymous
person who identifies himself as only "TC" from Sydney.
At 1.37pm 11/4/00
A well spoken man telephoned, spoke to my husband and
asked for "Sue Price". When he was told I was on the other line he said he
would "hold on".
He identified himself as "TC" from Sydney and then
proceeded to say he "had read the letter in the Australian"
"You're a disgrace..........(not sure what else). Then
he issued the threat, "We're going to destroy you....... "
TC was well spoken (possible English accent), very
deliberate, cold and calculating would appear to be the best suited
phrase.
As yet, we have no idea who he was. It was blocked
call, but we have reported the incident to the Federal Police as an offence
against the Telecommunications Act.
The letter must have seriously touched a nerve for
us to receive threats of this nature.
Believing the best protection against threats is exposure,
I will report any further occurrences.........
Sue Price
An insight into the suffering caused by the Family Court and Child Support
Agency: Other Letters Published in the Australian on 11/4/00
Thank you for publishing the story on the problems faced by many Australians
in the Family Court and the Child Support Agency ('Problem' Parents doing
Time, Focus 8-9/4).
Sadly, many people cannot come to terms with the damage caused by separation:
then to be faced with the narrow-minded Family Law Courts and the Child Support
Agency is too much.
Having been placed in a similar situation to that reported by Mr Stapleton
has made me realise that I am not alone. I lost my home, my family, contact
with my children and more recently my 20 year old job. I feel that the
persecution and sheer bloody-mindedness of the CSA drives many good parents
to despair. The persecution is even extended to second families, where any
children born from this relationship are treated with disdain and blatant
discrimination by the CSA.
Australians are reluctant to talk publicly about issues which may not be
"politically correct", and which may adversely portray the female sex, yet
male bashing is okay. We do not want to accept that the rate of male suicide
in Australia is one of the highest in the world, in fact we won't talk about
the subject for fear of influencing these weak minded people. So we just
sit back and allow the federal Government to introduce "mandatory sentencing"
for recalcitrant males, allow the CSA to broaden its sphere of operations
into the international arena and perhaps, just perhaps, we (dads) will be
able to see our children at the times granted by the courts.
Name and address supplied
Thank you for drawing attention to the excesses, irrationality and peculiar
mismanagement of the Child Support Agency.
For 12 months I struggled to meet my payments. I was given to understand
by my legal adviser that I had to maintain mortgage repayments, private medical
health cover, rates on investment land, ambulance ... all commitments in
place at the time of separation.
For the sake of my children I did that. At the same time I had to find a
decent and affordable unit and try to set up a new network of friends and
support. I was recovering from a stress collapse caused by trying to cope
with a full-time job and five part-time jobs in order to meet the constant
demands for more money.
With outgoings far exceeding my income I applied for a review of my support
commitment since I could obviously no longer maintain the sort of work regimen
that had led to my stress collapse.
The review officer (on the ground of a $60 difference between my gross salary
and my financial commitments) concluded that I could afford to maintain the
payments.
The following month my health fund increased its fees which halved that
difference. My only recourse was to appeal the decision through the Family
Law Court. Since I had already let my solicitor go, that was out of the question.
So I went broke, then into child support arrears which I still had a full-time
job from which support was garnisheed monthly.
Except for the kindness and support of my siblings, who kept lending me money,
I could well have been one of CSA's delinquent payers, and a jail candidate.
How dare the government consider legislation allowing the jailing of
non-custodial parents at the subjective behest of such an irrational autonomous
mediocrity as the CSA.
The quicker the Family Law Court is dispensed with and child support matters
dealt with by the normal legal system, the better for all involved.
Name and address supplied
Men's Rights Agency
Waterford Qld
THREATS
After TC had delivered his threat he 'hung-up'.