The current child support system can unfairly punish the working parent in equal-care arrangements, while creating little incentive for the other parent to return to sustainable employment.

Australia’s child support system should support children — not unintentionally reward prolonged underemployment where a parent has capacity to work.

In many equal-care arrangements, one parent continues working full-time and carrying the financial pressure, while the other remains in extended study, relies on government payments, or selectively engages with employment. Despite shared care, the working parent can end up subsidising decisions they no longer have any say in after separation.

This creates resentment, financial strain, and the wrong incentives.

I am calling for a review of:

• “capacity to earn” assessments,
• voluntary underemployment and extended study,
• welfare and child support interaction, and
• fairness in equal-care arrangements.

We want to support fair, positive co-parenting and healthy environments for children.