Australia’s child support system is outdated and fails to account for inflation and modern expenses like childcare, school supplies, and medical costs. Women, who comprise the majority of child support recipients, are disproportionately affected. Professor Kay Cook from Swinburne University highlights that child support payments have always been artificially low, worsened by inflation. Last year, over $1.7 billion in unpaid support was owed. Experts call for reforms to address non-compliance and the interaction between child support and Family Tax Benefits. A federal review, the first in 20 years, is underway to address these issues.

Read the Report