Coalition Decides To Play Politics With Family Breakup Wayne Swan - Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services

Media Statement - 29 June 2003

Barely before the ink was dry on the new Parliamentary Inquiry into custody issues and child support, the Minister for Children and Youth, Larry Anthony, today sought to blame Labor for the Government's inability to grapple with the issues.

The issues at stake are simply too important to be trying to score political points from.

Larry Anthony's comments were both desperate and factually wrong.

First, none of the comments I made yesterday in relation to allegations the Child Support Agency ignored suicide threats and other harm, criticised staff in the Agency.

Secondly, his claim Labor sunk proposals to the Child Support Scheme to encourage shared parenting is also wrong.

Labor supports shared parenting and financial relief to enable it to occur.

The fact is the Coalition was responsible for the failure of measures three years ago.

The Government's proposals at the time were flawed and were contradicted by the Government's own research which showed taking money from one parent to give to the other simply wouldn't work.

Labor proposed two alternative approaches:

• A means-tested, flat rate contact payment to non-resident parents; or
• A lower maintenance formula coupled with a change to the maintenance income test for family payments for resident parents.

Both proposals sought to ensure that no one was worse off, consistent with the research. But the Government refused to consider them because it refused to provide additional support.

The Coalition's position was remarkable given that maintenance payments save the Government almost $400 million a year in family assistance.

The only thing standing in the way of additional financial relief for parents who share care was the Coalition's penny-pinching attitude.

Labor Hopes the Parliamentary Inquiry will force the Coalition to reconsider its position.

Unfortunately the process is not off to a good start.