‘Unfair and Unreasonable’ – Report Finds $1.9 Billion in Unpaid Child Support in System Rife with Financial Abuse

‘Unfair and unreasonable’ – report finds $1.9 billion in unpaid child support in system rife with financial abuse

A damning report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman has found one third of complainants believe the child support system has become ‘weaponised’ by abusive ex-partners.

Services Australia failing to crack down on abusers 'weaponising' child support: report

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has found that Services Australia has failed to crack down on the weaponisation ...

Child Support System Being Weaponised for Financial Abuse, Ombudsman Found

Parents are weaponising Australia’s child support system to commit financial abuse, with Services Australia’s passive oversight further compounding the harm, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has found. According to the June 3 report, some parents are evading their obligations by deliberately withholding tax returns, misrepresenting earnings, and using threats or coercion to prevent the other parent from seeking help. The Child Support program, which h…

Child support 'weaponised' against parents: report

Parents aren't getting the necessary help from child support when they are the victims of financial abuse, a...

Parents 'manipulating' child support system without consequence: report

A Commonwealth Ombudsman's investigation finds Australia's child support system has been weaponised by financial abuse that is "amplified" by Services Australia.

Ombudsman chastises Services Australia over management of Child Support program

Services Australia is under fire for not being proactive over Child Support payments. Photo: Michelle Kroll. A Commonwealth Ombudsman investigation into Services Australia has found the agency is not doing enough to curtail “the weaponisation of Child Support”. Ombudsman Iain Anderson concluded that Services Australia was not properly identifying or responding to cases of financial abuse through the Child Support program. His report, released on…