Parents owing child support banned from leaving Australia

A crackdown on overdue child support payments means those failing to pay can be prevented from leaving the country.

Sydney, Australia - March 9, 2018 /PressCable/ —

In a collaborative program between the Child Support Agency and the Department of Immigration, border force workers have the right to stop someone from boarding an international flight if they have not paid their child support debts.

Some parents owe up to five-figure or six-figure sums in overdue child support.

They are not necessarily intending to flee the country, and may be boarding a plane for leisure or work.

The Department of Immigration retains the right to stop anyone owing overdue amounts in child support. They may fly out of Australia once they have made the payments, which may be done on the spot.

Hayder Shkara of Justice Family Lawyers in Sydney believes this is an effective way to ensure necessary payments.

“Child support payments do not exist for no reason. It’s important for people to know that failing to pay child support can have serious consequences,” Mr Shkara says.

“Parents have a responsibility for their children’s welfare and upbringing, and this is same after a separation or a divorce. Remarriage or living far away – these factors don’t matter. A child has the right to be financially supported by their two parents.”

When a person paying child support to their former partner has accrued a debt, they can be placed under a Departure Prohibition Order. This authorises immigration staff at international airports to bar them from leaving Australia for any purpose.

Departure Prohibition Orders are ruled after all other efforts to negotiate child support payment have been exhausted.

“This policy shows that avoiding payments is unacceptable,” says Mr Shkara.

In 2017, at least 1800 fathers intending to leave Australia on international flights were prevented from doing so until they paid their child support debts, a collective total of $9.9 million.

This collaboration between the Child Support Agency and the Department of Immigration began in 2001.

Despite this and other government policies, the total overdue child support payments in Australia owed to ex-spouses and their children is $1.5 billion.

Contact Info:
Name: Mr Hayder Shkara
Organization: Justice Family Lawyers
Address: Level 21 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: +61-2-8089-3148

For more information, please visit https://justicefamilylawyers.com.au

Source: PressCable

Release ID: 311311