“It’s not just about the money”: non-resident father’s perspectives on paying [109 KB PDF]

Key words: child support, fatherhood, non-residential fathers, meaning of money

Abstract

We examine fathers perceptions of paying child support using in-depth interviews with 26 separated or divorced non-residential fathers in Australia.While the majority of fathers agree that continued financial support of their children is important, child support is a difficult component of their lives. Difficulties arise not only because of the financial costs, but changes in the father-provider role after separation. The payment of child support is viewed as a continuation of the provider role, but fathers have little or no control over how much money is contributed and how that money is spent. Consequently, most fathers question the amounts they have been assessed to pay and how the money is being spent on their children. These responses suggest that policy reforms aimed at changing non-residential fathers child support behaviours need to be sensitive to non-material aspects of the payments not just capacity to pay.

On the surface this looks great but consider the underlying ideology of the researchers as seen in the language and methodology.

I will leave readers to consider the article and comment..
Note that this sort of research is all about child tax compliance and how to increase. It presupposes the validity of a child support tax.Officials here at the Family Commission are “researching ” into the “costs of children”. They also accept the validly of a child support tax.Its all about collecting revenue and nothing to do with supporting children. Its an unjust an unfair system that produces ridiculous results and puts “liable” parents into financial slavery to IRD.

The only way to make politicians do anything is to make Child Support an election issue. That means putting it an keeping it on the election agenda by direct action.The only ones who can change the current mess are the politicians, but they are not doing anything because we let them get off easy! There are three months till an election its time to start getting active.

Imagine the press turning up to Wellingtons IRD call centre where a “tent City” has been erected by parents who pay child support tax. Imagine if that happened in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Tauranga….

Regards
Scrap