Contents
Part I—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1
3............ Objects of Act.................................................................................... 1
3A......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 1
4............ Interpretation...................................................................................... 2
5............ Extension and application of Act in relation to
maintenance of exnuptial children 14
6............ Additional application of Act in relation to
maintenance of children of marriages 16
7............ Corresponding State laws................................................................. 16
8............ Act to bind Crown............................................................................ 17
9............ External Territories........................................................................... 17
Part II—Administration 18
10.......... Child Support Registrar.................................................................... 18
11.......... Secretary to have general administration of Act............................... 18
13.......... Child Support Register..................................................................... 18
14.......... Annual report................................................................................... 18
15.......... Delegation......................................................................................... 19
16.......... Secrecy.............................................................................................. 19
16AA.... Offence of unauthorised use of information..................................... 25
16A....... Applications, notices, elections to be in the
manner specified by the Registrar 26
16B....... Registrar’s power to request tax file numbers.................................. 27
16C....... Registrar may require Commissioner to provide
information.......... 28
Part III—Registration of maintenance liabilities 29
Division 1—Registrable maintenance liabilities 29
17.......... Liabilities in relation to children that are
registrable maintenance liabilities 29
17A....... Liabilities in relation to persons who have paid
amounts where no liability to pay because the person is not the parent.......................................................................................................... 29
18.......... Liabilities in relation to parties to marriages
that are registrable maintenance liabilities 30
18A....... Liability in relation to registrable overseas
maintenance liabilities... 30
19.......... Exclusion of liabilities by regulation................................................. 31
Division 2—Registration of maintenance liabilities 32
20.......... Arrangements with States, Northern Territory and
Norfolk Island for transfer of liabilities 32
21.......... Arrangements in relation to Territories (other
than the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island) for transfer of liabilities.......................................................................................................... 32
22.......... Registrar to register transferred liabilities in
Child Support Register 32
23.......... Payer and payee to notify Registrar when
registrable maintenance liability arises etc. 32
24.......... Registrar to register liability in Child Support
Register on receipt of notification etc. 34
24A....... Registrar to register liability in Child Support
Register on making of child support assessment [see Note 4] 34
25.......... Application for registration of registrable
maintenance liability...... 35
25A....... Inclusion of certain liabilities in the Child
Support Register............ 37
25B....... Effect of inclusion............................................................................. 37
25C....... Limitation on inclusion of liabilities in Register............................... 37
26.......... Particulars of liability to be entered in Child
Support Register........ 38
26A....... Payment period to be entered in Register under
paragraph 26(2)(b) if Registrar to collect by deduction from salary or wages................................................................................................ 40
26B....... Payment period to be entered in Register under
paragraph 26(2)(b) if payer makes voluntary payments 41
26C....... Initial period that may be registered under
paragraph 26(2)(a)........ 43
27.......... Single entry in relation to all liabilities with
same payer and payee. 45
28.......... Day on which liability first becomes enforceable
under Act............ 45
28A....... Reversal of subsection 23(3) or 24A(2)
election—collection of arrears 46
28B....... Conversion of periodic amounts into payment rates
in respect of payment periods 49
29.......... Conversion of amounts payable under registrable
maintenance liability into daily rates etc. 50
30.......... Effect of registration......................................................................... 50
30AA.... Rule to avoid dual liabilities.............................................................. 50
30A....... Enforcement of Australian liabilities overseas.................................. 51
31.......... Effect of registration on existing garnishment
and attachment of earnings orders 52
32.......... Payer and payee to be given copy of entry in
Child Support Register on application 52
Division 3—Variations to entries in Child Support
Register 53
33.......... Payee to notify Registrar of court order varying
registered maintenance liability etc. 53
34.......... Payee to notify Registrar of happening of
affecting event............... 53
35.......... Payer may apply to Registrar for variation of
Child Support Register.. 54
36.......... Registrar to vary Child Support Register on
receipt of notification or application 55
37.......... Registrar may vary Child Support Register to give
effect to court order etc. 55
37A....... Registrar to vary Child Support Register on
amendment of child support assessment 56
37B....... Registered maintenance liability not to be enforced
if payer is a low‑income recipient of a social security pension or a
social security benefit....................................................................... 56
38.......... Variation of Register to have enforceable
maintenance liability no longer enforced under Act 59
38A....... Election by payee or by payee and payer jointly............................ 59
38B....... Decision by Registrar based on payment record and
other factors.. 60
38C....... Election not to enforce—registered maintenance
liability................ 61
39.......... Application for variation to enable liability to
again become enforceable under Act 61
39A....... Reversal of section 38A election or 38B
decision—collection of arrears 62
39B....... Amounts not enforceable under this Act during
periods when the payee is not the main provider of ongoing daily care for a
child.......................................................................................... 64
40.......... Entry wrongly existing in Child Support Register........................... 67
41.......... Obsolete entries in Child Support Register...................................... 67
42.......... Correction of clerical errors and other mistakes
in Child Support Register 67
42A....... Registrar may vary Child Support Register to change
period entered under paragraph 26(2)(b) to reflect pay cycle.......................................................................................................... 67
42B....... Registrar may vary Child Support Register if
payer’s pay cycle changes 68
Division 4—Notices in respect of registration decisions 70
42C....... Notices must be given to payers and payees in
relation to registration decisions 70
42D....... Content of notices in relation to registration decisions
for registrable overseas maintenance liabilities 71
Part IV—Collection by deduction from salary or wages 73
Division 1—Employer withholding 73
43.......... General rule of collection by automatic
withholding in case of employees 73
44.......... Cases in which employer withholding not
applicable...................... 73
45.......... Notification to be given to employer and employee........................ 76
46.......... Duty of employer to make deductions from salary
or wages.......... 77
47.......... Additional duties of employers........................................................ 79
48.......... Two or more employers in relation to one employee...................... 80
49.......... Discharge of payer’s liability to Registrar and
employer’s liability to payer 81
50.......... Payment by trustees of deducted amounts...................................... 81
Division 2—Penalties 83
51.......... Penalty for late remittance of deductions......................................... 83
52.......... Penalty for failure etc. to make deductions from
salary or wages.... 83
53.......... Penalty in relation to certain unexplained
remittances by employers 84
54.......... Remission of certain penalty amounts............................................. 84
55.......... Reduction of late payment penalty where judgment
debt carries interest 85
56.......... Penalty to be alternative to prosecution for
certain offences against Part 86
Division 3—Provisions applicable to employers 88
57.......... Employers not to prejudice employees because of
registrable maintenance liabilities etc. 88
58.......... Employers not to disclose information etc....................................... 89
59.......... Records to be kept and preserved by employers............................. 89
60.......... Incorrectly keeping records etc......................................................... 90
61.......... Access to premises etc..................................................................... 90
62.......... Public officer of company................................................................ 91
63.......... Public officer of trust estate............................................................. 92
Division 4—Miscellaneous 94
64.......... Amounts payable under Part debts due to
Commonwealth............. 94
65.......... Application of amounts paid or credited where 2
or more debts due 94
Division 5—Application of this Part to those engaged
under a contract for services 95
65AA.... Application of this Part to those engaged under a
contract for services 95
Part IVA—Election available to payers who make voluntary
payments of maintenance liabilities 96
65A....... Election under this Part.................................................................... 96
65B....... Registrar to act on election............................................................... 96
Part V—Payment and recovery of child support debts 98
66.......... When child support debts become payable...................................... 98
67.......... Penalty for late payment of child support debts............................. 98
67A....... Due date of certain debts for the purposes of
calculating penalty... 99
68.......... Remission of late payment penalty.................................................. 99
69.......... Reduction of late payment penalty where judgment
debt carries interest 101
70.......... Apportionment of payment between payees................................ 101
71.......... Direct payments to payee.............................................................. 102
71AA.... Registrar may offset child support debts between
payer and payee 102
71A....... Payments to third persons by payer.............................................. 103
71B....... Payments not in money.................................................................. 104
71C....... Other payments of up to 30% of child support
liability............... 104
71D....... Registrar may refuse to credit amounts in special
circumstances... 106
71E........ Notices must be given to payers and payees in
relation to registration decisions 106
72.......... Application of certain amounts to child support
debts................. 107
72A....... Registrar may collect child support related debts
from a third person 108
72AA.... Deductions from social security pensions and benefits................. 110
72AB.... Deductions from family tax benefit................................................ 111
72B....... Person receiving or controlling money of a debtor
who is outside Australia 113
72C....... Transaction to defeat maintenance liability.................................... 114
Part VA—Departure prohibition orders 116
Division 1—Registrar may make departure prohibition
orders 116
72D....... Registrar may make departure prohibition orders.......................... 116
72E........ Meaning of child support liability................................................... 117
Division 2—Offence provision 118
72F........ Departure from Australia of certain child support
debtors prohibited 118
Division 3—Administrative requirements 119
72G....... Notification requirements for departure prohibition
orders........... 119
72H....... Operation of departure prohibition order....................................... 119
72I......... Revocation and variation of departure prohibition
orders.............. 119
72J........ Notification of decisions about revocation and
variation............... 120
Division 4—Departure authorisation certificates 122
72K....... Application for departure authorisation certificate........................ 122
72L........ When Registrar must issue departure authorisation
certificate...... 122
72M...... Security for person’s return to Australia....................................... 123
72N....... What departure authorisation certificate must
authorise................ 123
72O....... Notification requirements for departure authorisation
certificates. 123
72P........ Notification requirements for substituted days.............................. 124
Division 5—Appeals and review in relation to departure
prohibition orders and departure authorisation certificates 125
72Q....... Appeals to courts against making of departure
prohibition orders 125
72R....... Jurisdiction of courts...................................................................... 125
72S........ Orders of court on appeal............................................................... 125
72T....... Applications for review of certain decisions.................................. 125
Division 6—Enforcement 126
72U....... Powers of authorised officers......................................................... 126
72V....... Privilege against self‑incrimination................................................. 127
72W...... Certain people must produce authority to depart.......................... 127
Division 7—Definitions etc. 128
72X....... Definitions...................................................................................... 128
72Y....... Interpretation—departure from Australia for foreign
country....... 128
Part VI—Payments to payees 129
Division 1—Child Support Account 129
73.......... Child Support Account.................................................................. 129
74.......... Credit of amounts to Account........................................................ 129
75.......... Purposes of the Account................................................................ 130
Division 2—Payments to payees 131
76.......... Entitlement of payees to be paid collected
amounts...................... 131
77.......... Unremitted deductions made by employers................................... 132
78.......... Unexplained remittances from employers...................................... 132
79.......... Overpayments of payees............................................................... 133
Division 3—Suspension determinations 134
79A....... Suspension determinations—pending declarations that
parent not entitled to administrative assessment 134
79B....... Suspension determinations—pending SSAT and court
reviews.... 135
79C....... Varying particulars after suspension or resumption
determination is made 137
Part VII—Internal objection procedures for certain
decisions 138
Division 1—Preliminary 138
79D....... Simplified outline............................................................................ 138
79E........ Object of this Part.......................................................................... 138
Division 2—Decisions against which objections may be
lodged 139
80.......... Decisions against which objections may be lodged........................ 139
Division 3—Time limits on lodging objections 142
81.......... Time limits on lodging objections................................................... 142
82.......... Applications for extensions of time............................................... 142
83.......... Consideration of applications for extensions of
time for lodging objections 142
Division 4—Requirements relating to objections 144
84.......... Grounds of objections.................................................................... 144
85.......... Registrar to serve copies of objections and
accompanying documents on other parties 144
86.......... Other party may oppose or support objection.............................. 144
Division 5—Consideration of objections 146
87.......... Consideration of objections by Registrar....................................... 146
Part VIIA—SSAT review of certain decisions 147
Division 1—Preliminary 147
87A....... Simplified outline............................................................................ 147
88.......... SSAT objective............................................................................... 147
Division 2—Applications for review 148
Subdivision A—Applications for review 148
89.......... Applications for review.................................................................. 148
Subdivision B—Time limit on applications for review 149
90.......... Time limit on applications for review............................................ 149
91.......... Application for extension of time................................................... 149
92.......... Consideration of applications for extension of
time for applying for review 149
93.......... Procedures on receiving applications for review
not required until review of extension application completed 150
Subdivision C—Application procedures 151
94.......... Application procedures.................................................................. 151
95.......... Procedures on receiving applications for review............................ 152
96.......... Parties to be given statements about decisions
under review......... 153
97.......... When document is not required to be sent..................................... 154
98.......... Directions prohibiting or restricting disclosure
of documents........ 155
Subdivision D—Effect of variations of original decisions on
applications 155
99.......... Variations of decisions before reviews completed.......................... 155
Subdivision E—Dismissal of applications 156
99A....... Subdivision does not apply in relation to Registrar....................... 156
100........ Dismissal of an application............................................................ 156
100A..... Dismissal of an application on request of party............................ 157
Division 3—Parties to reviews 158
101........ Parties to reviews........................................................................... 158
102........ Notice of application to persons affected by
decision................... 159
Division 3A—Prehearing conferences 160
103........ Pre‑hearing conferences.................................................................. 160
Division 4—Hearings 161
Subdivision A—Arrangements for hearings 161
103A..... Arrangements for hearings.............................................................. 161
Subdivision B—Submissions from parties other than the
Registrar 161
103B..... Subdivision does not apply in relation to Registrar....................... 161
103C..... Submissions.................................................................................... 161
103D..... Written submissions only............................................................... 162
103E...... Hearings without oral submissions from a party........................... 163
Subdivision C—Submissions from the Registrar 164
103F...... Submissions from the Registrar...................................................... 164
Subdivision D—Other evidence provisions 165
103G..... Evidence on oath or affirmation...................................................... 165
103H..... Children of parties not to give evidence......................................... 165
103J...... Provision of further information by Registrar................................ 165
103K..... Power to obtain information........................................................... 165
103L...... SSAT may require Registrar to obtain information........................ 166
Subdivision E—Hearing procedure 167
103M.... Chair for hearings............................................................................ 167
103N..... Hearing procedure........................................................................... 167
103P...... Hearing in private........................................................................... 167
103Q..... Restrictions on disclosure of information obtained
at hearing........ 168
103R..... Adjournment of hearings................................................................ 168
Division 5—Decisions on review 169
Subdivision A—SSAT review powers 169
103S...... SSAT must affirm, vary or set aside decisions............................... 169
103T..... Powers of the SSAT for purposes of reviews................................ 169
103U..... Decision of questions before SSAT................................................ 169
103V..... Date of effect of SSAT decisions................................................... 170
Subdivision B—Consent orders 170
103W.... Powers of SSAT if parties reach agreement................................... 170
Subdivision C—Notification and publication of decisions 171
103X..... Procedure following SSAT decision............................................... 171
103Y..... Correction of errors in decisions or statements of
reasons............. 172
Subdivision D—Costs 173
103Z..... Costs of review............................................................................... 173
Division 6—Other provisions 174
103ZA.. Directions as to procedure for reviews........................................... 174
Part VIII—Court review of certain decisions 176
Division 1—Preliminary 176
103ZB... Simplified outline............................................................................ 176
Division 2—Jurisdiction of courts 177
103ZC... Simplified outline............................................................................ 177
104........ Jurisdiction of courts under Act..................................................... 177
105........ Application of Family Law Act..................................................... 178
106........ Appellate jurisdiction of Family Court under Act......................... 179
107........ Appeals to Family Court from courts other than the
Federal Magistrates Court and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia......................................................................................... 179
107A..... Appeals to Family Court from the Federal Magistrates
Court and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia 181
108........ Cases stated.................................................................................... 183
109........ Appeals to High Court................................................................... 184
110........ Appeals from courts of summary jurisdiction............................... 185
Division 3—Appeals and references of questions of law
from SSAT to courts 187
Subdivision A—Preliminary 187
110A..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 187
Subdivision B—Appeals from decisions of SSAT 187
110B..... Appeals from decisions of SSAT................................................... 187
110C..... Time limits for instituting appeals................................................. 187
110D..... Parties to appeals........................................................................... 188
110E...... Constitution of courts.................................................................... 188
110F...... Powers of courts............................................................................. 188
110G..... Courts may make findings of fact................................................... 189
Subdivision C—References of questions of law from SSAT 190
110H..... Reference of questions of law to courts......................................... 190
110J...... Constitution of courts.................................................................... 190
Subdivision D—Other provisions 191
110K..... Sending of documents to, and disclosure of documents
by, the court 191
Part VIIIA—Other provisions relating to reviews of
decisions 192
Division 1A—Preliminary 192
110N..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 192
Division 1—Effect of pending reconsiderations on
assessments, registrations etc. 193
Subdivision A—Preliminary 193
110P...... Scope of Division........................................................................... 193
110Q..... Meaning of reconsideration............................................................ 193
Subdivision B—Effect of pending reconsiderations 193
110R..... Pending reconsiderations do not affect operation of
decisions....... 193
110S...... Pending reconsiderations not to affect
registrations etc................. 193
110T..... Pending reconsiderations do not affect assessments...................... 194
110U..... Pending reconsiderations do not affect decisions
under section 64A of the Assessment Act 194
Division 2—Implementation of decisions 195
110V..... Registrar must implement decisions............................................... 195
Division 3—Determining when decisions become final 196
110W.... Determining when decisions become final...................................... 196
Division 4—Restrictions on publication of review
proceedings 198
110X..... Restrictions on publication of review proceedings......................... 198
Part VIIIB—Other provisions relating to courts 202
111A..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 202
111B..... General powers of court................................................................. 202
111C..... Stay orders...................................................................................... 204
111CA.. Frivolous or vexatious proceedings................................................ 204
111D..... Copies of orders to be forwarded to Registrar............................... 205
111E...... Registrar may intervene in proceedings.......................................... 205
111F...... Court order for payment in proceedings instituted
by payee to recover debt 205
111G..... Costs in proceedings instituted by payee to recover
debt............. 206
111H..... Cessation of orders under Act........................................................ 206
Part IX—Miscellaneous 207
111........ Duties of payers............................................................................. 207
112........ Copies of maintenance orders and agreements to be
forwarded to Registrar 208
113........ Recovery of debts etc..................................................................... 208
113A..... Recovery of debts by payees......................................................... 209
114........ Application of payments............................................................... 210
115........ Substituted service.......................................................................... 210
116........ Evidence.......................................................................................... 210
117........ Appearance by Registrar etc.......................................................... 211
118........ Judicial notice of signature.............................................................. 212
119........ False or misleading statements....................................................... 212
120........ Obtaining of information and evidence........................................... 213
121........ Order to comply with requirement................................................. 213
121A..... Obtaining of information and evidence in relation to
residents of reciprocating jurisdictions 214
121B..... Giving information to overseas authorities..................................... 215
121C..... Regulations may prescribe manner of giving notices
or other communications 215
122........ Right of contribution...................................................................... 215
124........ Application of Act to overseas orders and
agreements.................. 215
124A..... Regulations in relation to overseas‑related
maintenance obligations etc. 216
125........ Regulations..................................................................................... 216
Notes 217
