Media release

Inquiry into child support reviews

Parents for Children has launched an inquiry into Inland Revenue’s administrative reviews of child support. Administrative reviews enable departures from standard formula assessments.

“Reviews are held in secret and publication is prohibited”, said Mark Shipman of Parents for Children.

Shipman said this system is hurting parents and children and that review officers are inventing figures from thin air without any justification.

“The numbers of parents seeking help with administrative reviews has skyrocketed. Inland Revenue claims that it is a simple process, when in reality it is a complex area of law.”

“Parents, mums and dads, are being financially crippled by the decisions of these bureaucrats. Proposed changes to the Act will make the situation worse, not better.”

“Politicians have failed to hold an inquiry into the Child Support Act 1991, and mums, dads and children continue to suffer by the application of a crude formula based approach. Parents for Children has begun an inquiry into the administrative review process as the first of a series of inquiries into the Child Support Act 1991,” he concluded.

ends

Contact Details

Mark Shipman 021-982222
Jim Nicolle 021-800586

Please make your submission as an email. For a postal submission 8 Copies are required – address details can be obtained from Jim or Mark on the phone numbers listed above.

Please keep your email down to pertinent points .The Inquiry Board members are donating their time voluntarily and have committed to read all submissions.

Please indicate if you wish your submission forwarded with the Inquiry report to Michael Cullen, Minister of Revenue.

Please refrain from swearing and abusive language. Inquiry Board members fully understand the level of dissatisfaction with the Child Support Act 1991 and its administration by the IRD

If you wish to make a verbal submission in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin you must include a contact address and telephone number.

Suggested Structure for a submission

Brief introductory paragraph providing contact details (address and phone number) and the
a brief description of your situation.

e.g I am a paying parent, I share care 3 nights a week, I pay for two children and have been doing so for 16 years.

Followed by the body of your submission.

Submissions Close 1 November 2006

For further information email [email protected]