Labor proposes sweeping reforms to force overseas fathers to pay child support

Labor is set to advance the Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Ending Financial Abuse in the Child Support Scheme) Bill, which aims to recover close to $2 billion in unpaid child support. The measure would stop Services Australia from disclosing a parent’s personal information, such as employment details, to a former partner during assessment requests. It introduces faster recovery mechanisms, safeguards against unjust tax debts, and allows foreign custodial parents to apply directly for support under the same rules as Australian residents, with payments routed through Services Australia.

Ministers Tanya Plibersek and Katy Gallagher highlighted the reforms as a major step toward protecting children and families from financial abuse and domestic violence. The legislation is presented as the first phase of the most significant child-support overhaul in decades.