10.03.2011
This is the third of four Issues Papers released for the Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws Inquiry.
Submissions closed on 21 April 2011. Please contact Sara Peel if you wish to make a late submission.
The Issues Paper Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws—Child Support and Family Assistance deals with the treatment of family violence in child support and family assistance laws, and questions how they can be improved to better protect the safety of victims.
The Issues Paper considers whether a definition of family violence should be inserted into child support and family assistance legislation. The Issues Paper further considers a number of issues in relation to child support, including
- screening for family violence by the Child Support Agency;
- the requirement to take reasonable maintenance action, and exemptions granted due to family violence;
- collection of child support; and
- protection of personal information.
With respect to family assistance, the following issues, among others, are addressed:
- exemptions from Tax File Number requirements in cases of family violence;
- payment of Family Tax Benefit when a child is in informal care; and
- the Special Child Care Benefit where children are considered at risk of serious abuse.