Many women and children living in poverty are not receiving adequate child support. Experts question the political will to change it
Amanda and her seven-year-old daughter, Carly, live in a two-bedroom townhouse in Melbourne’s inner city. Because it’s part of the national rental affordability scheme, the rent is just $720 a fortnight. Even so, with her parenting payment only amounting to $776.10 a fortnight, the former company director often has to rely on food banks – especially when child support payments from her ex-partner, John, fall short.
Last year, John’s tax return reported his income to be dramatically lower than it had been previously. Now recorded as $52,500, his child support payments subsequently dropped to $329 a month from $745. The timing was devastating for Amanda, as it coincided with Carly beginning primary school and the recommendation that she be assessed for having special needs – a costly process.
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