Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, if I am reading the figures correctly, it is estimated that there are currently approximately 105,000 people who are using self-employment and cash income to understate their income. It is also estimated that an additional 1,800 parents a year will face scrutiny under the minister’s announcement. I am not sure whether that includes the 300 who do at the moment or if it is on top of that number. Regardless, on my calculations, that is a little over one per cent of the people who it is alleged are or who are thought to be understating their income. Could the minister inform the House in general terms what process will be used to determine which of the 105,000 people will face this scrutiny? Will it be based on complaints from their former partner? Will there be a formula which the CSA will develop to identify those most likely to be identifiable as rorting their payments? Clearly, with 105,000 potential candidates for surveillance and only 1,800 who will be subject to it, there is a large degree of room to move in determining who receives the attention.

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