‘Financial abuse’: Domestic Violence victims forced to pay child support to their abusers

Domestic violence victims are being further tormented as they are forced to pay their abusers through the child support system.

Domestic violence victims are being forced to pay their abusers through the child support system.

DV Connect chairwoman Shaan Ross-Smith said child maintenance payments could be used as a form of “power and control’’ long after victims have fled an abusive relationship.

“It’s a system of power play,’’ Ms Ross-Smith said.

“They punish the other partner through their children. I know women whose partners have left their jobs so they don’t have to pay (child support).’’

Single mother “Kate’’, who cannot be named to protect her children’s identity, was left temporarily homeless after child support payments to her ex-husband left her too poor to pay bills.

Shaan Ross-Smith, DVConnect Board of Directors Chair. Picture Glenn Hampson

A magistrate has granted a five-year protection order against Kate’s ex-husband, who has shared care of the children so long as he is of “good behaviour and does not commit domestic violence’’ against them.

The federal Department of Social Services is refusing to reveal how many Child Support claims involve domestic violence – or even confirm that it collects the data.

“Due to the private nature of child support and the sensitivities around domestic violence we are unable to provide an exact figure regarding how many child support applications made in the last financial year notified the Agency of domestic violence,’’ a spokeswoman said.

Kate earns an average wage but her ex-husband quit his job – so she must pay him nearly $150 a week in child support.

“I think he gets a kick out of me having to pay,’’ she said.

“His capacity to earn is far greater than mine, but I have my wage garnished and am forced to pay child support.

“He doesn’t contribute to the school fees and I pay for their uniforms, book packs and laptops.

“When I told Centrelink about that they said I have to negotiate with him to pay (half those costs), even though I have a no-contact protection order.

“Women who have been subjected to abuse should not have to pay their abusers.’’

Child support is being reviewed by a long-running federal parliamentary inquiry into family law, due to report in October.

Kate said the Child Support Agency required her to hand over all her banking statements to her ex-partner if she wanted to challenge the payment, but she feared this might identify her location.

When Kate notified Services Australia of her concerns, she was sent a letter referring her to DV helplines.

“You advised you have a protective order against (your ex partner) and raised concerns that you are required to transfer child support payments while this order is in place,’’ the letter states.

“Family and domestic violence is unacceptable at any time.

“An exemption can be obtained from seeking child support not paying child support.’’

Services Australia wrote that a parent assessed to pay child support “is required to make payments directly to us’’.

“We then transfer the payment received to the other parent,’’ it stated.

“This arrangement can minimise contact between parents where there has been violence or conflict.’’

Child support is being reviewed by a long-running federal parliamentary inquiry into family law, due to report in October.

The inquiry’s deputy chair, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, has called for a radical shake-up of Child Support to abolish payments between parents with 50-50 custody.

Blasting parent who blow maintenance payments on “beer and Botox’’, she has called for it to be quarantined in a trust account or welfare card to ensure it is spent on children’s needs.