Outline of the Issues Paper

9. This Issues Paper, Family Violence, Child Support and Family Assistance Law (IP 39), deals with the treatment of family violence in Commonwealth child support and family assistance law, namely under the:

  • Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 (Cth);
  • Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth);
  • A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 (Cth); and
  • A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth).

10. The ALRC has identified a number of issues relevant to the treatment of family violence in Commonwealth child support law. In child protection law and practice, family violence may have implications for the following:

  • exemptions to taking reasonable maintenance action;
  • collection of child support; and
  • protection of personal information.

11. In family assistance law and practice, family violence may have implications for the following:

  • payment of the baby bonus;
  • exemptions from providing tax file numbers;
  • payment of Family Tax Benefit when a child is in informal care; and
  • the Special Child Care Benefit.