Child Support in Australia
In Australia, child support is the financial contribution that a parent makes towards the cost of raising their child, when they do not live with the child on a full-time basis. The amount of child support is determined by the Child Support Assessment, which takes into account the income of both parents and the time the child spends with each parent.
The Australian government has established Service Australia (SA), which is responsible for calculating and collecting child support payments. SA uses the formula set out in the Child Support Assessment Act 1989 to determine the amount of child support that a parent is required to pay. This formula takes into account factors such as the income of each parent, the number of children, and the amount of time each child spends with each parent.
Child support payments are usually made on a monthly basis, and are collected by SA. Parents can also make private arrangements for child support payments, which must still comply with the assessment formula set out by SA. In these cases, SA will monitor the payments to ensure they are being made correctly.
If a parent does not make the required child support payments, SA can take enforcement action. This may include deducting the payments from the parent's salary, intercepting tax refunds, or cancelling their passport. In some cases, SA may also seek legal action against the parent for failing to meet their child support obligations.
It is important to note that child support payments are not intended to cover all of the costs of raising a child. Instead, they are meant to provide a contribution towards the costs, with the main carer of the child responsible for covering the majority of the costs.
In conclusion, child support is a crucial part of the Australian family law system, and is designed to ensure that children receive financial support from both parents, regardless of whether they live with one parent or both. SA calculates the amount of child support that a parent is required to pay, and enforces the payment of these amounts if necessary.
