At WIRE, we know that all forms of family violence can continue long after the relationship has ended. This may look like stalking, physical threats, technological abuse or financial abuse and the tactics used are often as creative as they are manipulative.
For women who have children in their care, child support payments are now commonly weaponised against them. We hear from many mothers who report that they are not receiving any child support payments. We hear of fathers refusing to help cover the cost of daily expenses, including school fees and healthcare needs, placing sole financial responsibility onto the mother as the primary care giver. In some cases, we hear of individuals minimising their taxable incomes by falsifying tax reports, taking cash jobs and salary sacrificing, all as a means to underpay child support, paying an amount so dismal that would barely cover the cost of a child’s lunch.
This is economic abuse.
A recent report conducted by Women’s Legal Service Australia highlights non-payment of child support as economic abuse, calling for urgent systemic reforms (2024). Like most forms of family violence, non-payment of child support is a gendered issue, as 85% of primary caregivers are women. The report reveals that the impact of this abuse can cause both immediate and long-term financial distress for mothers and their children, as the financial burden restricts their ability to pay rent, bills or apply for any loans for years after. This is in addition to existing economic disadvantages experienced by women, such as the gender pay gap, unpaid caring roles, lack of superannuation and unequitable property settlements. Furthermore, there is a direct link between the financial burden of economic abuse and women’s health, as mothers attempt to manage the chronic stresses of financial deprivation and the physical consequences of poverty. This also applies to the children in their care.
It is currently estimated that there is $2 billion of child support debt in Australia. There is no penalty for people responsible of unpaid, underpaid or delayed child support payments. The lack of consequence perpetuates traditional power dynamics. It is forcing women to stay in unsafe situations to remain economically secure. And most critically, it is normalising gendered violence for the next generation. WIRE stands with Women’s Legal Services Australia to raise awareness of this critical issue. We call on the next term of Government to make urgent system reforms to help protect the women and children who experience this abuse.
