The Department of Human Services (DHS) has revealed that record numbers of Australians are being caught up by travel bans due to unpaid child support payments.
The Department said 1,067 individuals were served with Departure Prohibition Orders (DPO) in the first half of this financial year, representing an almost 50 per cent increase on the same six-month period last year.
It said the crackdown also helped to recoup more than $15 million between 1 July and 30 December, which was $2.5 million more than the total amount recovered during all of the 2017-18 financial year.
Minister for Human Services, Michael Keenan said that while most parents were responsible and always paid their child support on time, there were those who deliberately chose to do the wrong thing by their children.
“Paying child support is not a choice, it is a moral and legal obligation,” Mr Keenan said.
“Those who shirk their responsibilities are literally depriving their children of a better life and we make no apologies for using these tough measures to make them pay up.”
He said the Government’s message to parents was simple: If you can afford an overseas holiday, you can afford to support your children.
“That should be your first priority, not jetting off for a break in a foreign country,” Mr Keenan said.
“Each year the DHS facilitates the transfer of about $3.5 billion in child support payments to support about 1.2 million Australian children,” he said.
“The money recovered via DPOs goes straight to the parent who has custody of a child.”
He gave the example of a Victorian parent who agreed to make a lump sum payment of more than $185,000 after their travel plans were interrupted by a DPO.
“Prior to the order being issued, the parent had ignored all other attempts by DHS to encourage them to start making repayments,” the Minister said.
“A NSW parent who had been living overseas for several years and was not paying child support was hit with a DPO when they flew back into Australia for a brief visit late last year.
“The person repaid about $40,000 before they were allowed to leave the country again.”
