Media Release
Monday 16 January 2006
Child Support Agency urges people to report suspected fraud
Child Support Agency's Acting General Manager, Trevor Sutton is today urging the community to report suspected cases of fraud or where a parent is minimising their income to avoid paying child support.
"The Child Support Agency takes claims of child support minimisation very seriously. When these claims are reported to the CSA we investigate and can initiate a change to the assessment which can result in a more appropriate amount of child support being paid."
In 2004/05 an extra $2.15 million was transferred between parents for the benefit of their children following investigations initiated by CSA.
Mr Sutton said CSA's first priority is the 1.2 million Australian children who rely on child support.
"The financial support of children is the responsibility of both parents. If these obligations aren't met it's the children who suffer," Mr Sutton said.
The Australian Government's fraud tip-off line provides the general public with a place to report suspected cases of fraud against CSA, Centrelink, Medicare Australia or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If you suspect someone is misusing the system call 13 1524.
CSA customers can also contact CSA through 13 1272.
Media enquiries:
0434 605 144
media@csa.gov.au
