Media Release

Parents for Children

26 April 2007

For Immediate Release

Collins Fails Parents And Children Again

“By describing parents who have unpaid child support as neglectful parents Judith Collins has yet again failed to address the underlying cause of the alleged debt: Fundamental flaws exist in the Child Support Act 1991. Real neglect rests with politicians and their failure to admit that the Child Support Act 1991 is in need of significant reform.” Commented Mark Shipman of Parents for Children, responding to Collin’s comments.

Ms Collins National Party created this mess when they passed the Child Support Act, but it’s easier for her to demonise parents and have tax police arrest parents at an airport than to address the cause. Parents and children have been failed by politicians like Collins who never address underlying causes, focus on symptoms and use selective interpretation to demonise parents”. Observed Mark when asked what was National’s contribution to the solving the problem.

“Parents feel highly offended when Judith Collins states it is her opinion that if you owe money to child support then you are a neglectful parent. It’s just another example of her fixation with punishing parents by presenting selective figures that support her inflexible vendetta. Surely it’s obvious to ask the question: Why are so many parents put into debt by the child support act in the first place? The challenge for Collins and her ilk is to look for the causes, not the symptoms” Concluded Mark.

Ends
For further information contact
Mark Shipman 021982222
Jim Nicolle 021800586

Parents for Children is a national organisation seeking legislative change to enable parents who have separated to continue parenting and supporting their children.
This requires:
1. Presumptive shared parenting
2. A fair and reasonable child support system
Parents for Children advocates that best outcomes for children of separated parents is ongoing equal sharing of parental responsibility by both parents.