Media Release
Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig
Minister for Human Services
Senator the Hon Chris Evans
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
28 August 2008
International travel net tightens on child support evaders
The Child Support Agency and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship have boosted efforts to crack down on overseas travel of separated parents who are avoiding their child support responsibilities.
The Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig, said today that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies strengthened the CSA’s Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) program.
“The CSA, with the support of DIAC, has the power to issue international travel bans if a parent persistently fails to meet child support obligations,” Senator Ludwig said.
“When a DPO is issued, the affected parent cannot leave Australia until they make satisfactory arrangements to pay their child support debt.”
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the agreement allows CSA to gain access to DIAC’s movement database to identify the overseas travel patterns of parents who have significant child support debts.
“This new access complements the data-matching arrangements between the two agencies which have been in place for some time now,” Senator Evans said.
“It’s pleasing to be able to further assist the CSA with this important program, as the end result is making sure child support payments get to the children who need them.”
Currently the CSA has 1103 DPOs in place across Australia. Senator Ludwig said the message to separated parents who owe child support was clear.
“If you want to travel overseas then you need to sort out your overdue child support payments,” Senator Ludwig said.
“During 2007-08, the CSA issued 924 DPOs and as a result collected about $5.7 million in outstanding child support.”
Senator Ludwig called on people who knew of upcoming travel plans of child support defaulters to contact the CSA through the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-off Line, 13 15 24 so a DPO could be considered.
“The CSA needs to know the likely date of travel and the city and means of departure so that the process can go more smoothly and children can receive the money they need,” he said.
Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) program results 2007-08
| STATE | Number of DPOs placed (2007/08 financial year) | Total Collection in the cases where DPO placed (2007/08 financial year) | Number Of DPOs currently in place (as at 1 August 2008) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW/ACT | 168 | $ 940,610 | 193 |
| QLD | 71 | $ 639,498 | 92 |
| SA/NT | 30 | $ 149,582 | 74 |
| VIC/TAS | 198 | $ 1,190,330 | 229 |
| WA | 213 | $ 1,140,078 | 203 |
| INT | 240 | $ 1,574,505 | 312 |
| Other | 4 | $ 46,196 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 924 | $ 5,680,799 | 1103 |
More information / downloads
(34k) Media Contacts
Joe Scavo (Ludwig) — 0413 800 757
Jo Scard (Evans) — 0411 138 570.
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