We, the undersigned, respectfully petition for a comprehensive review and reform of Australia’s child support system. While the Child Support Scheme aims to ensure the wellbeing of children, many men experience significant and recurring issues that undermine fairness, transparency, and the ability to maintain meaningful parental involvement. The concerns outlined below reflect widespread experiences reported across the community.

1. Lack of Recognition for Private Payments

A major concern is that child support payments made privately between parties are not taken into consideration by Services Australia. When fathers make direct contributions — such as cash payments, school fees, medical costs, clothing, extracurricular activities, or other agreed expenses — these payments are frequently disregarded unless formally documented through the Child Support Agency. This results in:

• Double payment obligations

• Financial hardship

• Disputes escalating unnecessarily

• A system that discourages cooperative parenting arrangements

We request that the system formally recognise and credit private payments where evidence exists.

2. Income Assessment Issues

Men commonly report:

• Assessments based on gross taxable income, not actual disposable income

• Failure to account for business fluctuations, seasonal work, or involuntary unemployment

• Delays in updating assessments when income drops

• Automatic assumptions of “capacity to earn” even when unsupported by evidence

These practices can create unrealistic payment obligations and long-term debt.

3. Limited Consideration of Shared Care

Many fathers experience:

• Care percentages not accurately reflected

• Difficulty proving actual care arrangements

• A system that defaults to the mother’s reported care unless challenged

• Reduced recognition of informal or flexible parenting schedules

This results in assessments that do not reflect the true level of involvement fathers have in their children’s lives.

4. Enforcement Measures Causing Hardship

Men frequently face:

• Aggressive debt recovery actions

• Garnishing of wages and tax refunds

• Travel bans

• Credit impacts

• Accrued penalties that grow rapidly

These measures often apply even when fathers dispute the assessment or have made private payments that were not recognised.

5. Lack of Transparency and Procedural Fairness

Key concerns include:

• Difficulty accessing clear information about how assessments are calculated

• Limited avenues for timely review

• Perceived bias in favour of the receiving parent

• Complex processes that disadvantage self-represented individuals

Men often feel the system is adversarial rather than supportive of cooperative parenting.

6. Impact on Mental Health and Parent–Child Relationships

The financial pressure, administrative burden, and perceived inequities contribute to:

• Stress, anxiety, and depression

• Reduced ability to provide for children during care periods

• Strained relationships with children due to financial constraints

• Feelings of disempowerment and exclusion from parenting decisions

Petition Request

We respectfully request that the Australian Government and relevant agencies undertake a full review of the Child Support Scheme, with particular focus on:

• Formal recognition of private payments supported by evidence

• Fairer and more flexible income assessment methods

• Accurate and balanced consideration of shared care

• More proportionate enforcement mechanisms

• Improved transparency, communication, and procedural fairness

• Policies that support both parents’ involvement in their children’s lives

Our goal is a child support system that is fair, evidence-based, and reflective of modern parenting realities, ensuring children benefit from the support of both parents without creating unnecessary financial or emotional hardship.

We also recommend that a Royal Commission enquiry be held into this matter from the perspective of men to determine a fair system for all parties.