(16k)Media Release
4 December 2009
Parents owing child support may not get to travel overseas this Christmas
Minister for Human Services, Chris Bowen MP, has warned parents with overdue child support that they may be prevented from travelling overseas this Christmas.
“If a parent has overdue child support and refuses to work with the Child Support Agency (CSA) to organise a payment arrangement, the CSA has the power to issue a Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) to prevent them from travelling overseas,” Mr Bowen said.
“Parents with overdue child support should arrange to pay it before they head overseas to ensure their children are financially supported.”
The CSA uses data provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to target non-paying parents who historically travel during the Christmas holiday period.
DPOs are one of a range of enforcement measures the CSA uses when parents refuse to meet their obligations and are only issued after other measures have been explored.
If the customer attempts to leave Australia while a DPO is in place, the customer will be stopped by the Australian Customs Service or the Australian Federal Police.
If the customer chooses to pay the overdue amount in full or negotiate a satisfactory ongoing payment arrangement, the CSA can lift the DPO and allow travel overseas.
The CSA currently has 860 DPOs in place.
Parents who have overdue child support and need to travel overseas for work or personal reasons should phone the CSA on 131 272 to discuss a suitable payment arrangement.
Media Contact
Laura Stevens — 0432 833 769
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