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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Some dads say they're going broke
These men say they're trying to be good fathers, but the pressure of keeping up with child support payments takes its toll, sending some of them broke.
Adelaide parent Bill Hetzel had a successful small business that made him a good living, but seven years after the break up of his marriage, which produced a son, he says he is almost broke.
"Nine times out of 10, whoever is looking after a child has been able to move on with their life and get over the break up," said Bill.
<"If you don't know your rights and you don't know how to deal with these people, which a lot of guys don't, then you don't have any option, you just have to basically become their whipping boy."
Bill claims he was paying $600 per week in child support, less than he was earning. While Bill was away on holidays he claims the agency dipped into his bank account and took the lot, $5000.
Bob Tuddenham from the South Australian Lone Father's Association sais some dads are caught in the middle of the child support system.
He said he hears stories like Bill Hetzel's every day, with many men pushed beyond breaking point, feeling like life is just not worth living.
Chris's story is more worrying than most. After paying child support for a son he loved dearly for 10 years, Chris has just discovered the little boy isn't his after all.
"You just can't believe it, it just sort of rips your guts out," Chris said.
Chris estimates that over the last decade he has paid out about $25,000 to support his little boy and while the joy of fatherhood is all but gone, so is the money, according to the child support agency.
"They reckon it's not their problem, nothing to do with them at all," Chris said.
A new independent report is damning of the agency. The author is Richard Cruikshanck.
"We discovered the scheme has created a huge disincentive for men to work and rather than face being left with hardly anything actually to spend, they've chosen to go on the dole," he said.
He says there needs to be a thorough examination of the Child Support Office and better accountability.
When Today Tonight approached the agency for comment they refused, saying they were in a caretaker mode because of the Federal Election.