Review of the Child Support Scheme
Introduction
The Child Support Scheme Reforms were announced on 28 February 2006. The reforms follow a review of the Child Support Scheme by the Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support.
The reforms aim to better balance the interests of parents to ensure that the best interests of children are protected and to reflect community values about child support.
Child Support Scheme Review
An inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation made a number of recommendations about the Child Support Scheme. The recommendations included a major review of the Child Support Scheme focussing on:
- contemporary work, parenting and family structure, and
- income profiles of child support payers and payees.
In 2005, the Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support and Reference Group reviewed the Child Support Scheme.
Findings of the Taskforce's review
The Ministerial Taskforce's report, 'In the Best Interests of Children - Reforming the Child Support Scheme' was publicly released on 14 June 2005. One of the report's key findings highlighted the need for a greater emphasis on shared parental responsibility and the importance of both parents remaining actively involved in their children's lives after separation.
Stage 1 Reforms - July 2006 changes
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