Clamping Down On Child Support 'Dodgers' A Red Herring

Associate Revenue Minister, David Cunliffe, met with Australian child support officials this week to discuss clamping down on non-custodial parents who owe $42 million in debt.

According to Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB, "It is the New Zealand taxpayer who pays the vast majority of 'child support' in this country, not liable parents."

"Ironically, the Minister of Revenue has greater powers to prevent the taxpayer from 'dodging' child support than he has to chase up actual parents."

"$42 million is a drop in the bucket. It represents less than two percent of the annual cost of keeping single parents and their children. According to Treasury, about $235 million is paid by non-custodial parents to welfare-dependent parents annually. "

"The all-up annual cost of single parents on the DPB and other benefits, including allowances like family support and accommodation supplement, is, conservatively, around $2.5 billion."

"If the Minister is so keen on saving money he and his government should look at scrapping the welfare incentives that encourage family breakdown."

Lindsay Mitchell petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB forms available at www.liberalvalues.org.nz ph/fx 04 562 7944

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