Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am continuing my speech begun earlier in the day on the Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme—New Formula and Other Measures) Bill 2006. This corrects a cause of constant concern expressed by people who say that currently second families, in particular the children of second families, are unfairly and inconsistently taken into account. There will also be changes to the maintenance arrangements for family tax benefit part A so that the reduction under the maintenance income test that applies to payment above the base level will be limited to those children in the family for whom child support is paid. More flexible arrangements, with better legal protection, will be made for parents who want to make agreements between themselves about the payment of child support and for how lump sum payments are treated. I think all of those positives in this legislation will go a long way to addressing the longstanding grievances that are expressed by both payers and payees about the child support system. These reforms are to ensure the scheme works in the best interests of children while balancing the interests of parents and reflecting community expectations.

In summarising, we must acknowledge that the impact on children of the separation of their parents should be minimised and that the psychological and emotional stress that separations can cause is often compounded by the current child support regime. Any change to this that will reduce the negative impact on children deserves the support of all senators.