Katherine Rich MP - National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

12 January 2005

Child support debt 'out of control'

Child support debt has more than doubled under the Labour Government, according to figures released today by National Party Welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

"When Labour took office child support debt was at $361 million, it is now $873 million.

"This is a problem that's out of control by anyone's measure," says Mrs Rich.

According to figures provided by Associate Revenue Minister David Cunliffe there has been a 19% increase in unpaid child support debt in a single year, up from $731 million in 2003.

"Labour claims to be getting tough on unpaid child support, these figures show the opposite is true," says Mrs Rich.

Below: Non-custodial parents debt region by region as at November 2004.

Assessment Value Penalty & Interest Total Debt

Region

Auckland $151,830,730 $205, 592, 832 $357,423,562

Hamilton $77,289,686 $ 90,203,859 $167,493,545

Wellington $71,022,423 $101,795,988 $172,818,411

South Island $79,244,589 $96,669,348 $175,913,937

Total Debt $379,387,428 $494,262,027 $873,649,455 Figures as at November 2003.

Assessment Value Penalty & Interest Total Debt

Region

Auckland $129, 326,494 $165,772,713 $295,099,207

Hamilton $65,745,730 $ 74,965,017 $140,711,747

Wellington $63,568,697 $88,635,927 $152,204,624

South Island $65,559,756 $78,135,659 $143,695,415

Total Debt $324,201,677 $407,509,316 $731,710,993

Assessment Value Penalty & Interest Total Debt

All regions 31 Dec 1999 $201,265,772 $160,425,854 $361,691,626

The regions are defined as follows: * Auckland Area includes Manukau, Takapuna and Whangarei offices * Hamilton Area includes Gisborne, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Tauranga offices * Wellington Area includes Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington offices * The South Island includes Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and Nelson Child Support offices.

ENDS

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