The Albanese Labor Government will today introduce legislation to make the child support system safer and help more children get the support they are owed.
The Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Ending Financial Abuse in the Child Support Scheme) Bill will deliver the first stage of the reforms we announced in the 2026-27 Budget, the most significant reforms to the child support system in decades.
For too long, the child support system has been manipulated to cause harm to children and parents. This has left too many children without the financial support they need.
The Bill puts the safety of parents first and closes gaps that have allowed family and domestic violence perpetrators to continue causing harm.
This includes reforms to end the current legal requirement that any information provided by one parent during an application or objection be shared with the other parent, even if sharing that information could put children or a parent at risk.
Debt recovery will also be fairer. Families will be supported to recover more unpaid child support debts when they move into Agency Collect arrangements, and new pathways will be created to remove the harm that can arise from Family Tax Benefit debts caused by child support payers against their former partners.
The Bill also increases and simplifies access to child support for children living overseas, making it easier for families to access the support they need.
Further legislation will be brought forward in the coming months to fully deliver on our 2026-27 Budget commitments to make the Child Support Scheme safer and more effective
More information can be found on the Department of Social Services website.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Government Services, Katy Gallagher:
“The child support system should help children, not be weaponised for abuse or control.
“These reforms will make the child support system safer by closing gaps that can expose children and parents to risk, while making it easier to recover unpaid child support and get money to the kids it is meant to support.
“This legislation is about making sure that we design government services around the safety and needs of the people who use them.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:
“There is almost $2 billion of unpaid child support in this country. There are almost 100,000 parents and carers in the child support system who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing family and domestic violence. Australian children deserve better.
“The child support system should never be able to be used to punish, harass and control ex-partners and deny children the support they deserve.
“The Bill I am introducing today will help stop perpetrators continuing financial abuse through the child support system and make it easier for kids to get the support they are owed.
“This is the first stage of the most significant reforms to child support in decades, helping create a system that is safer, simpler and more effective for Australian families.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au
MensLine Australia Services are available if you are concerned about your wellbeing, relationships, and behaviour on 1300 789 978 or by visiting www.mensline.org.au
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