#reformcs - Immediate Changes to the CSA Assessment and Calculations

We the undersigned are outraged that our government is using a Child support system that is unfair and needs a major overhaul. We believe it is well outdated. By digitally signing this Petition we ask that Australian Senate & the Australian Federal Government accept this document in its entirety and allow it to be submitted and we request some of these changes be immediately implemented to bring our Child Support System into reform.
We request the following immediate changes to the CSA Calculations and assessments.
1: Income in the CSA assessment is on the basis of after Tax Earnings “Net Income”. Luxury Vehicle’s, Business Vehicle’s and Property Investment deductions are not to be included as legitimate deductions for the purpose of CSA Calculations.
2: The amount payable to the CSA is Nil if shared care of the children is 50/50. If outside arrangements are made in agreement between the paying and receiving parents this is outside CSA and must be mutually agreed by both parties.
3: If reasonable access is denied to the paying parent (Unless due to a legitimate proven danger to the child) payments shall be reduced to a minimum until such time as a visitation arrangement can be made to allow access to that said child/children. Where access is terminated for a period of more than 3 months payments shall be ceased.
4: If the paying parent has another family with other biological or adopted children, those children in the new family shall be calculated by CSA at an equal dollar value in the assessment as the child/children they are paying Child support for.
5: When a debt collection process is undertaken by the CSA a process needs to be in place to ensure the person having money garnished still has enough money to self support. If monies are being garnished from bank accounts, tax returns or wages then the CSA must not leave the person in financial hardship.
6: Both the paying Parent and Receiving Parents must lodge Tax Returns – Not just the Paying parent. If the Receiving parent does not lodge a Tax Return within a reasonable time-frame after receiving CSA Payments, the income will be deemed to be equal to that of the paying parent and no CSA should be paid until the receiving parent lodges a return.
These items below need to be reviewed and changed after consideration and individual voting by the elected Australian Government.
- A case by case approach for assessments undertaken by CSA when extenuating circumstances are evident or where an amicable result cannot be agreed by both parties in regard to dividing finances and assets not being split 50/50 between both parties.
- The current Income formula needs to be reviewed and capped at a fair and reasonable to be determined rate for the average income in Australia, not excessive amounts that may genuinely cause financial hardship on the paying parent.
- A scale of amounts paid to be possibly a sliding scale so that both parents can further their careers after a split without fear of earning more and paying more CSA. For example: 3 Years after a split the average income would be calculated and should either parent earn more after this period then they will not be penalised by CSA in the Calculations. This would need to exclude parents that are unemployed and also exclude those that split and immediately reduce their incomes by more than 10 percent.
- Paying Parents avoiding paying minimum amounts of CSA should have hefty penalties for failing to make any payments. Without causing financial hardship the CSA need an increase in the ability to garnish wages and unemployment benefits from paying parents. The government needs to employ a much larger number of employees for debt collection.
- Online Services and messaging system needs to be brought back online for communication between the CSA and clients, both for paying and receiving parents via the MyGov app.
- Possibly have a percentage of the CSA Paid to the paying parent allocated to go to a “locked” account or “trust” for the said child where an excessive amount of CSA is being paid.
- Include School Fees and other reasonable purchases for the Child as Child support, should the decision to be sending a child to a private school not be approved by both parents then the fees associated will be a legitimate deduction in the CSA Calculations.
- Overtime is a choice for people to undertake. This should not be accountable in an assessment after the above mentioned period full-stop. If someone chooses to work longer hours or weekends they should not be punished financially. Exclude Overtime from assessments after separation.
- CSA should release figures to the public with Statistics showing history of suicides related to CSA Debts and relationship breakups.