Across Australia, thousands of parents—overwhelmingly women and children—are living with the ongoing harm caused by the deliberate non-payment of child support.

This is not merely an administrative failure or a private dispute.

It is financial abuse—and it should be recognised as such under Australia’s domestic and family violence frameworks.

Why this matters

Financial abuse is already recognised in Australia as a form of domestic violence. It includes behaviours that control, coerce, or economically harm another person.

Yet intentional non-payment of child support, despite legal obligations and financial capacity, is still treated largely as a civil compliance issue—rather than the coercive, punitive behaviour it often is.

For many victim-survivors, particularly those who have fled violent or controlling relationships, non-payment of child support is not accidental. It is used to:

• Maintain power and control after separation
• Punish the other parent for leaving
• Create financial instability that limits independence
• Force ongoing contact and conflict
• Undermine the wellbeing and security of children

When a parent withholds financial support for their children, knowing the impact it will have on housing, food security, education, healthcare, and safety, that harm is deliberate.

The impact on children and survivors

Children pay the price when child support is withheld:

• Reduced access to stable housing
• Missed medical and therapeutic care
• Limited educational and extracurricular opportunities
• Increased stress, anxiety, and insecurity

For the primary carer, this behaviour often compounds existing trauma—especially where domestic violence, coercive control, or post-separation abuse has already occurred.

Survivors are frequently told to “just deal with Child Support,” even when the behaviour is clearly part of a broader pattern of abuse.

This leaves a dangerous gap in our legal and social response.

What we are asking for

We call on Australian lawmakers, policymakers, and relevant government departments to:

• Formally recognise intentional non-payment or manipulation of child support as financial abuse within domestic and family violence definitions
• Allow patterns of non-payment to be considered in family law, child safety, and domestic violence proceedings
• Acknowledge post-separation financial abuse as a continuation of domestic violence, not a separate or lesser issue
• Improve protections and pathways for victim-survivors, so they are not forced to endure ongoing harm through legal loopholes

This is not about punishing poverty or genuine inability to pay.

It is about recognising intentional, coercive non-payment for what it is: abuse.

Why recognition matters

When the law names harm accurately, survivors are believed, supported, and protected.

When it does not, abuse is minimised—and children are left vulnerable.

Australia has made important progress in recognising coercive control and non-physical forms of violence.

This reform is the next necessary step.

Children deserve security.

Survivors deserve safety.

And financial abuse should never be invisible.

Add your name

By signing this petition, you are standing up for children, survivor parents, and a legal system that reflects lived reality—not technical loopholes.

It’s time to call this what it is.

It’s time to act.