Hundreds of Australians won't be hopping on planes for overseas holidays this festive season because they are behind with child support payments.
They are among 897 separated parents who won't be allowed to leave the country until outstanding debts have been paid to the person looking after their progeny.
"Parents need to know that they can't leave their child support debt behind when they leave the country," Child Support Agency general manager Matt Miller said. "If you can afford to travel overseas for a holiday, you can afford to financially support your children."
PHOTO: AP
The agency has developed software that catches delinquent parents travelling abroad. They are banned from leaving the country until their debts are paid.
"You'd be surprised how many parents who have cried poor can access thousands of dollars within hours of being stopped at the airport," Miller told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Last year, 480 separated parents were held up at the airport and soon managed to find the collective A$5.9 million (NT$164.8 million) they owed in child support payments. At the last count, the agency was chasing A$11 million (NT$307.3 million) in child support arrears.
Despite a third of divorces being bound by arrangements where mum and dad have an equal share in bringing up their children, a quarter of offspring never see their non-custodial parent, usually their dad, or do so only once a year. The survey found that only six percent of children spent equal time with divorced parents.
It's often those who don't see their children that balk at helping pay for their upkeep.(DPA)
數百名的澳洲人今年耶誕、新年假期因為積欠子女撫養費,無法搭飛機出國度假。
有八百九十七位分居的父母在付清積欠給照顧子女一方的撫養費前,都不准出國。
「父母必須了解,他們不能放著未清償的子女撫養費就出國,」子女撫養費管理處總經理麥特.米勒說:「如果你付得起出國度假的費用,你就可以負擔子女撫養費。」
管理處研發了一套軟體,可以攔阻準備出國旅遊卻積欠撫養費的父母,他們在付清債務前禁止離境。
「若知道有多少平常哭窮的父母在機場被攔下時,竟能在數小時內籌到好幾千元,你會感到相當驚訝,」米勒向《雪梨晨鋒報》表示。
去年有四百八十位分居的父母在機場被攔下,他們在短時間內就籌到澳幣五百九十萬元(新台幣一億六千四百八十萬元)的子女撫養費欠款。最新的數據顯示,子女撫養費管理處仍在追繳澳幣一千一百萬元(新台幣三億七百三十萬元)的子女撫養費欠款。
儘管有三分之一的離婚父母協議平均分擔子女照顧,卻有四分之一的小孩從未見過他們非監護人的父或母(通常是父親),或一年只見面一次;調查發現,只有百分之六的小孩和離婚父母相處時間各半。
不願支付撫養費者通常是那些沒和孩子見面的父母。(德通社/翻譯:袁星塵)
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