SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH OF THE LONE FATHERS ASSOCIATION Inc.
"Children need their Father as much as their Mother"
LFAA National Peak Body
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH OF THE LONE FATHERS ASSOCIATION Inc."Children need their Father as much as their Mother"LFAA National Peak Body |
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The controversial Child Support Agency is costinq taxpayers billions of dollars by driving up the rate of unemployment of separated fathers to more than six times the national average, a leading research company has found.
Analysing the latest figures released by the government, FIR Research has found that 47% of separated fathers did not file a tax return in 2003. Further analysis shows more than 70% of all the unemployed males in Rustralia over the age of 20 are child support payers.
FIR Independent Research Group (see http://www.pir.com.au/ ) released a report today called Child Support: The Financial Cost to the Taxpayer, which details how a scheme which began with idealism and high hopes has turned into a national disaster. A background on the operation of child support in Australia and detailed analysis is provided.
Copies are being distributed to every Federal politician and Minister.
One of Australia's leading independent research organisations, the company undertook the project as a community service. It has also made a number of submissions to government about the serious financial implications of the Child Support Agency (CSA)
- Children of separated parents now receive less per child than prior to the creation ofthe $240 million a year CSA bureaucracy with its 3000 staff.
- For every dollar the GSA collects iz costs more than $5.00 in welfare and lost productivity.
- The cost of the scheme in 2003 alone was estimated at $5.0 billion. FIR has forecast a further cost to taxpayers of 666 billion over the next ten years
- CSA payers earning less than half the national average is 45% 283,815.
- it is estimated that more than 70% of all the unemployed males in Australia over the age of 20 are child support payers. There is 221,375 representing more than six times the national average
- 47% cf CSA separated fathers (296,853) aid not even file a tax return in 2003.
PIR research and analysis clearly demonstrate the burden on taxpayers created by the wild support scheme. it is both structured and managed poorly, it provides huge disincentives to work, the welfare burden created is immense.
There is now a massive ground swell against the Child Support Agency, any government that is not prepared to fix the scheme as a matter of urgency will pay the price from the seven million Australians who are now directly and intirectly affected by its operation, heat of PIR Research Richard Cruickshank said.
A copy of the report is available online at http://pir.com.au/pdf/report_csareview.pdf or in published form contact FIR on 1800 501 696.
For interviews contact Richard Cruickshank, Director FIR Research Te,: (03) 9670 1767 / +613 9670 7767
The information advice and opinions herein are tendered on the basis that no liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss or damage howsoever caused or arising whether by negligence or otherwise.
SOURCE: HR Researsh