International Travel Net Tightens on Australia’s Child Support Evaders

The Australian Child Support Agency and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship have boosted efforts to crack down on overseas travel of separated parents who are avoiding their child support responsibilities. The Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig, said that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies strengthened the CSA’s Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) program.

‘The CSA, with the support of DIAC, has the power to issue international travel bans if a parent persistently fails to meet child support obligations,’ Senator Ludwig said.

‘When a DPO is issued, the affected parent cannot leave Australia until they make satisfactory arrangements to pay their child support debt.’

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the agreement allows CSA to gain access to DIAC’s movement database to identify the overseas travel patterns of parents who have significant child support debts.

‘This new access complements the data-matching arrangements between the two agencies which have been in place for some time now,’ Senator Evans said.

‘It’s pleasing to be able to further assist the CSA with this important program, as the end result is making sure child support payments get to the children who need them.’

Currently the CSA has 1103 DPOs in place across Australia.

Senator Ludwig said the message to separated parents who owe child support was clear.

‘If you want to travel overseas then you need to sort out your overdue child support payments,’ Senator Ludwig said.

‘During 2007-08, the CSA issued 924 DPOs and as a result collected about $5.7 million in outstanding child support.’

Senator Ludwig called on people who knew of upcoming travel plans of child support defaulters to contact the CSA through the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-off Line, 13 15 24 so a DPO could be considered.

‘The CSA needs to know the likely date of travel and the city and means of departure so that the process can go more smoothly and children can receive the money they need,’ he said.

Source: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

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