This petition is to support change to the current Child Support Act 1991, specifically to change the current formula assessments and policies it uses. A change to the Child Support Act 1991, I know will bring relief to many families and individuals that are being penalised for working hard. The problem with the CS Act 1991 is: • there is no pre-determined formula for non-custodial parents that in which additional incomes for overtime or a second job do not cause maintenance payments to increase. • the current law encourages the receiving carer to restrict contact with the liable parent as they will financially gain from it. • the formula is based on before tax not after tax. • New families and their needs are not recognised neither are the spouses or partners that are main breadwinners in the house the children primarily reside in, NZ has stated pretty clearly that if you are living with a partner their income affects your income. • There should be a "universal child cost" that's in direct proportion with their age. • There should be harsher penalties for Liable Parents that don't pay, the Government says that you can be stopped leaving the country and even be arrested for unpaid fines and non-repayment of Student loans so the same needs to be done for Child Support, if you decide to have a child then you will be held accountable for their living and well-being. •There needs to be more effort put into locating Liable parents overseas and here, particularly communication between Australia and NZ .  • From the age of 2 onwards receiving carers on Sole Parent Benefits should be required to obtain work making the care and cost of children 50/50. These are just some of the issues I believe are wrong with The CS Act 1991, and I'm not saying I have all the answers to what's wrong with it but I do know that these issue's needs to be seriously looked at, reviewed and new policies bought on. An example Liable Parent 1 can pay $330 a month for 2 children while Liable Parent 2 can pay $1500 a month for 2 children, why does it cost less for Liable Parent 1's children? The answer, it doesn't. There is a minimum for child support and there needs to be a maximum. If we don't win a change for the CS 1991 Act, it's encouraging poverty in 1 household for working hard and luxury in the other for being a stay at home parent ( which is not teaching good values to the children at all), it's promoting abusive behaviour in the way of restricting access for financial gain, it's promoting un-healthy and angry relationships around the children in what's already a tumultuous time. If we win, we are looking at a fair system for all, a minimum and maximum amount judged off money you actually have, both parents being held liable for financial, emotional and care needs of children. I personally have had enough, too many friends families struggling with child support, too many friends having to give up dream jobs and work less hours so child support doesn't cripple them into debt week after week. Too many people being penalised for working hard. If you are in agreeance please sign this so we can get a positive change, if we do nothing then nothing will change and week after week you will, like my partner, be disheartened at the situation and constantly on the verge of giving up. SIGN AND LETS MAKE A CHANGE, A FAIR CHANGE