Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697642041417.pdf (Australia)
“Mothers Matter” We hold the hand of the future Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence July 2020 www.ncsmc.org.au ncsmc@ncsmc.com.au Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

1 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 The National Council of Single Mothers & their Children Inc (NCSMC) It is an organisation dedicated to single mothers and a platform whereby both the community and the Government can communicate.
NCSMC can comment on policy and legislation and ensure that the lived experience is heard.

NCSMC provides information, referrals, and assistance to single mothers through our electronic platforms.

In the past year we have responded to tens of thousands individual requests whilst our information post can reach up to 100,000+ per week.
One of our greatest strengths is our expertise and commitment in working with and for the advancement of single mother families who are affected by poverty, hardship, and/or domestic violence.

It`s Real: Poverty, Family and Domestic Violence The National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc (NCSMC), welcomes this inquiry.
It is particularly important as the current Joint Parliamentary Inquiry into Family Law and Child Support has manifestable lost credibility, and reiterate the stance from the Law Council of Australia which has called for the abandonment of a federal parliamentary inquiry into the family law system, citing concerns that the hearings are ‘being used for political purposes to undermine domestic violence claims made by women’.
NCSMC contends that this had a high degree of predictability and the Inquiry did proceed against the unanimous opposition from experts in the domestic and family violence sector.

Furthermore, we welcome that this Inquiry will draw from the lessons learnt from the COVID 19 pandemic.

It will be our intention for the social security system and the child support system to be securitised as both contributors and enables of domestic violence as well as providing remedies.
We remain concern that this element is shielded from the scrutiny despite its importance especially in the lives of women who have officially left violence partners as we know that separation does not unlock the key to safety.

The pandemic arrived in neighbourhoods, towns, and cities where there were already significant pockets of inequality, disadvantage and fears were held of increased in family and domestic violence and sadly this was released.
Findings from the Australian Institute of Criminology survey revealed that more than half of women who had experienced physical or sexual violence before the COVID-19 crisis said the violence had become more frequent or severe since the start of the pandemic whilst 33 per cent of women indicated that it was the first time they had experienced physical or sexual violence in their relationship.

Overlay this with a patchwork of inequality and women life circumstances became extremely bleak.
Women are over-represented in insecure, low-quality, and low-paid work, often minus labour market protections.
New analysis of poverty in Australia finds that, before COVID-19, households with children with a female main income earner were more than twice as likely to live in poverty as those in which the main income earner was male, highlighting the impact of caring roles on poverty in Australia.i Single mother households are especially vulnerable to financial distress, which can be exacerbated by lost income due to their illnessii, the health needs of children, home-schooling and the presence of family violence only a few steps away.
Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

2 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Hope and Change is Possible A positive world can be found in these recommendations.

We must caution against confusing a wicked problem with a lack of concerted effort.
To this end, NCSMC would like to congratulate the government on swift action, most specifically the Coronavirus Supplement of an extra $550 per fortnight, the JobKeeper Payment and the two Economic Support Payments.

Unequivocally, the Coronavirus Supplement made the most and significant difference for single mother family in receipt of the Parenting Payment Single and the Jobseeker Allowance.
We describe the payment as a life changer and life saver to the individuals who received the payment, their family, their local community, and our economy.

$550 has given myself and my two young children the opportunity to escape severe domestic violence, not only having enough to fill up the car to get away but also enough to purchase fresh food and needed medical items.

I did not have to choose between our safety or food.

This has been a life changer and also may have been a life saver.
My children for the first time ever can have fresh food in a safe home surrounded by love.

Image and statement provided by Mother First published on 550 Reasons to Smile page Our expertise is derived from our own research, collaboration with others and steeped in the rich but often tragic experience of women who have sought our service.

It is from this unique but clear vantage point that we present our submission and recommendations.
Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

3 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Recommendations The Safety Net: Let it Work 1.

Maintain the much welcome and critical Coronavirus Supplement at $550 per fortnight beyond 24th September 2020.

It is not too late to reverse this decision.

Unfortunately, the second wave and hot spots provide this impetus.

A change in policy would reflect the change in circumstance.

2.

3.

4.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Extend the Coronavirus Supplement to single mother households in receipt of Disability Support Pension, Carers Payment, Carers Allowance and Women in receipt of temporary visas.

This would immediately provide relief to struggling families and directly reach families who have escaped violence or need to leave but access to financial recourses is a barrier.

A profound investment.

Provide an exemption to the parenting payment single for women affected by family and domestic violence.
Current exemptions and precedents already exist but unwisely not for domestic violence.

This would enable the retainment of the current level of payment and an exemption from mutual obligations, a sensible outcome.

Include Poverty as priority within the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children Seeking and staying safe costs money, a lack of financial resources can be an outcome of abuse as well as a strategy that prohibits women from leaving.
Furthermore, it forces them to return to the place of abuse into the hands of their abuser.

Remove the “income declaration” for the current and next financial year which can result in a debt to the government.

Noting the heightened turbulence of income estimation during this period and the increase in family and domestic violence.

Eligibility for the “crisis payment” is problematic and access is low.
The current 7-day timeframe is completely out-of-step of the reality of priorities to reporting domestic violence to Services Australia, a 21-day timeframe would be more reasonable.

Furthermore, it needs to be accessible for women leaving and or fleeing violent circumstances.

The amount, which is ½ the current income support payment is inadequate.

We recommend a ‘domestic violence payment’ that has additional amounts for children.
Signifying to the Australian community that Services Australia is a place to report domestic violence and that assistance can be provided.

Safety Net: It is time to know 7.

The Productivity Commission to undertake a review that seeks to understand the immediate, medium, and long-term economic consequences for those who have being affected by family and domestic violence.

The benefit of the Coronavirus Supplement was instructive and illustrated how an adequate safety net changes and saves lives.
The Australian Social Security system needs to provide a safety net beyond the supplement.

The current system results in a life of poverty with hardship, homelessness and deprivation being the hallmarks of retirement.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

4 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Financial Abuse: $1.6B Child Support Debt 8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.


Close the loopholes that enable 200+ Australians to avoid and minimise their taxation and child support obligations through the non-lodging of tax returns.

Thus, fulfilling their responsibility to the 1.2 million children in the scheme.

Non-compliance is pattern that is premised upon financial abuse and control whilst the lived effect is minimised, and volatile payments are normalised.

Most payees are women, the primary carer and with low incomes.
Decoupled child-support from FTB (A) by excluding child-support income in FTB (A) calculations to compensate for the volatile and reduced child support payments always present but highlighted by COVID 19.

No compliance is a calculated behaviour that is premised upon financial abuse and control with the aim to leave the payer, mostly low- income women, with a family payment debt whilst no guarantee of payments.
See report by Swinburne University, Debts and Disappointment: Mothers' Experiences of the Child Support System.

Elevate child support for it to be considered within parenting deliberations and available before the mediators and decision makers in the Courts.

Furthermore, child support debt and or payment should be included in credit ratings.

Provide women with a choice to enter a State Guarantee Payment as an alternative to not receiving seeking child support due to safety concerns.
Currently the system perversely awards the perpetrator of violence as they do not have to contribute.

This outcome for some women will remain preferable but other options, with the support of women, should be trialled.

The non-collection was and remains the only strategy to mitigate and manage family and domestic violence with the Child Support Scheme.

Reconvene the Child Support National Stakeholder Engagement Group.
A national group that brought together Government and Non-Government organisations that focused upon matters and needs for families in post-separation with a key focus on child support.

It is essential as it is one of the more emotive and complex pieces of legislation.

Extend access to superannuation held by the “payer” where child-support debt has been substantiated by Services Australia.

Superannuation has become a haven to ‘hide’ money and not pay child support.
Furthermore, allow early access to superannuation for women who need to offset reduce child support payments with similar thresholds of 15%.

We make this recommendation understanding the long-term implications but whilst the income support remains inadequate, a child support debt is $1.6 Billion other strategies are required.

14.
14.

Implement the Women’s Economic Security Statement (2018) for women, most pivotal providing Courts with access to the Australian Tax Office enabling full disclosure of Superannuation Funds to inform property settlements.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

5 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Family and Domestic Violence: A hand-up changes the fabric of lives 15.

16.
16.

Maintain free child-care for Australians who are eligible for the FTB.

Providing access to childcare for families who are reconfiguring a new life and managing all the elements that are part of that process.

Universal childcare has a raft of benefits including early education and socialisation in a safe and nurturing age appropriate environment.

Remove “compliance and suspension” within the ParentsNext program.

It is currently halted, and it should never resume.
The poor, inconstant and the need to attend when affected by domestic violence is more aligned to retraumatised than assistance.

NCSMC points to a unanimous concern at the Senate Inquiry including human rights and that the evaluation of the program never included the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF), rending the evaluation as flawed.

Essentially participants of a pre-vocational program with babies and incredibly young children can and have had their payments suspended.
Spiralling families into hardship.

17.

“Engagement” to replace “suspension and compliance” within the job network especially at this current time.

Undertake a full review to examine why exemptions granted on the grounds of family and domestic violence is never commiserate with the nationwide figures.

Court & Safety 18.

19.

Replicate the current ‘Family Court list dedicated to COVID-19’ for parenting issues and use this model for all women affected by family and domestic violence.
An initiative has the potential to keep families and children safer, its more affordable, it is more accessible, attendance is safer and with appropriate screening processes it can be equipped to manage family and domestic violence as well as litigation abuse.

Seeking safety should not be a spiral into financial hardship or features in the lives of separated parents for years, even decades post separation.
It is disproportional burden to manage when combined with the sole parenting and in the context of family and domestic violence.

Pass the Family Law Amendment (A Step Towards a Safer Family Law System) Bill 2020.

We must amend the Family Law Act 1975 to remove provisions relating to the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility making parenting orders and grant primacy to safety for children.
The recommendation reflects A better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence, and the 2019 Australian Law Reform Commission report Family Law for the Future - An Inquiry into the Family Law System.

NCSMC has provided case studies to amplify this matter and note that one of the narrators would be available to provide additional evidence should be requested.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
6 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Her earnings will be about 20% less than a male and that`s if she is in full-time paid work.

However, she will most likely be employed part-time which drops her to an average of 33% less.

If we then include interrupted paid work to undertake care, her wage is further lowered.
We then further increase the dollar divide through a superannuation system where we reserve the greatest tax concessions to the biggest earners and do not pay contributions if earnings are less than $450 per month.

The contribution of unpaid care is absent in policy, even in child support.

when it was ‘equalised’ in 2008.

We accept $1.6 billion owed to children as we fail to remedy the alarm that children are missing out.
We remove critical supports, find innovative and costly ways to punish and then blame this mum for being poor.

Her jouney into hardship began at birth.

She has a 40% chance of living in poverty when she retires.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
7 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Poverty and Violence Research undertaken by Dr Elspeth McInnes, Poverty in Australian Society and the Relationship to Gender, brings to the Committee insightful and instructive knowledge.

The research presents the certainty of a relationship between poverty and violence.

Furthermore, and as born out in other research, it is victim of the violence who is always left impoverished.
The findings echo the statements, the circumstances, and the request of support from women to NCSMC.

Moreover, the perpetrator may be wealthy or poor, but the experience of violence victimisation created or increased poverty for the victim.
The outcomes of violence as identified in the research spoke to the need for the victims of violence to leave their relationships and any financial support, abandon possessions, abandon property interests, to spend money replacing the household they had lost, to meet legal and health bills arising from the violence and to become the only full-time parent for children who themselves were traumatized by violence.

Furthermore, the cost may not be a “once off”.


The presence and use of litigation abuse are a strategy to expunge and take control of the victim's finances, rendering them poor, whilst presenting the viable option is for them to return to the abuser as favourable to housing stress and/or homelessness especially with dependent children is on the table and controlled by the perpetrator.

Ongoing abuse beyond separation includes damage to children's items, mostly during contact, as well as property.
In 2019 NCSMC was contacted by a woman who is desperately trying to keep herself and her child safe, her previous experience of violence had been severe and life-threatening trauma with lengthy hospitalisation (pictures were supplied to NCSMC).

The woman needed to replace all her tyres on the car as he had slashed them.

Symbolically and literally signalling to her that she was stranded.
The research found that both children and adults exposed to violence face risks of traumatisation, anxiety, and depression – conditions which can derail people from success in education and in paid work.

Findings that are out-of-step with the social security system that retypes women as unemployed, with reduced support irrespective of family and domestic violence.
The current system ignores the disabling impacts of exposures to violence which sharply escalate the risks of being unable to successfully gain and sustain well-paid employment all of which was made harder by the pandemic.

Research sounded alarm bells for younger children and noted that the younger the age of exposure, the greater the risk of developmental traumatisation where the young child adapts to survival in a dangerous and violent environment.
Such children can face lifelong problems with social relationships, intergenerational poverty.

Traumatisation, anxiety, and depression can also be used against women in mediation, parenting deliberations and court hearings especially if there is no screening, training by those making the decisions and specialist support for women affected by domestic violence.

“Keeping the Peace” is a practical strategy exercised by many whilst our system is premised upon disclosure.
The system, through increased protections and safety, along with access to support must install a sense of confidence that disclosure could be a step towards safety.

Otherwise the power of the family and domestic violence rest with the perpetrator.

learning and earning, raising the risks of chronic Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

8 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 “I’m a mother of three children.
One child who lives with me full time from a previous relationship.

My other two children went to my ex-husband after suffering depression after our breakup.

It was emotionally and financially abusive and I was drained.

My ex- husband used my “mental health” to then gain full custody of the children.

The court let my abusive perpetrator control when I could and could not see the kids and he also did the “supervision”.
I fell into a worse spiral of depression and eventually he stopped me seeing them all together even though I was still breastfeeding.

I have shown psychiatrist reports that are in my favour, but this keeps going on.

Currently I have not seen my 2 little girls in 19 months.

My son who lives with me was also separated from them for 8 of those 19 months.

We are on the long waitlist awaiting trial.


I miss them more than anything and I feel “free” legal aid has done nothing for me they have not even mentioned the abuse or why I left him.

He is paying for a lawyer and he is winning.


Trials need to be relooked at and prioritised, so kids don’t have to be so long without their mothers.” Statement provided for this submission Coronavirus Supplement: Saving and Changing Lives We have evidence that informs us of the powerful and life changing impact of the Coronavirus Supplement.
It is essential that it extends beyond the 24th September 2020 and that it remains until there is a national review like the Harmer Review (2009) to understand suitable levels of support.

The context of hardship, poverty and unsafe lives removes the capacity to “spring back” or “step into” the labour market, should and when opportunities arise.
Labour market opportunities will be fewer, more delayed, and most probable they will replicate what was before the pandemic, which included on-call, casual, low paid and insecure work.

Around 45% of working women are employed part-time, compared to less than 20% of working meniii.

An effective economy can only exist if Australians have the support and reliability of social assistance.
Deloitte describe the Coronavirus Supplement and JobKeeper as “lifesavers” with figures demonstrating that spending growth was entirely driven by supplement recipients from May 4-10, 2020iv.

Single mother hardship is not new.

We reference the Government’s Inquiry into “Intergeneration Welfare Dependency” as recent as 2019 and acknowledge that there was a recommendation to increase payments to single mothers which was reported to be erased before the election.
The Coronavirus Supplement is essentially, a long time overdue, with unified calls from economists, the business community, as well as Government Members who identify its benefits for individuals and communities.

It is critical that the payment be retained.

Single mothers’ risk been locked out of the highly competitive labour market with extended periods.

It is estimated that seven and a half days of lost income could impact the ability to pay rent for a month.
Two and a half days of lost income could cost an entire month’s worth of groceries.

It is no longer acceptable that a single mother and for her children to pick up the tab for poor policy settings.

Children living in sole parent families have a poverty rate of 39.4%, 3 times that of couple families of 13.1% v Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
9 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 $550 has meant that we do not have to share our house because we did not have enough money to cover the housing cost.

It is not always safe.

Single mothers are typically amazing money jugglers and that they know where every cent is spent.

They would have planned at a minimum six months of the coronavirus supplement.
We are therefore seeking that the public announcements correlate lived experience and these families receive six- months of benefits at this higher level, as a minimum.

For some recipients, the first payment was not received until 11 May 2020, if their reporting period is 27 April to 10 May, and they will only get 19 weeks of the Supplement, which means they miss out on $1925.
For those who received it on 28 April, the first day a payment was made, they will only receive 21 not 26 weeks which means they miss out on $1375.

In addition to the significant and life changing financial relief, it will assist with certainty in estimating annual income for the purpose of child-support and family tax benefits.

The Power of the Safety Net when it works I was going okay; we did not have a lot, but we were safe.
His abuse got worse, and then I lost the PPS because Carly (name changed) turned eight years.

Since then I ration every household item and services.

For the past two weeks, our shopping basked is full and we can keep the heater on.

We are just starting to think that we can make it I did not smile and tried not to talk to people – all my front teeth are chipped.

Sometimes he meant to hit me and sometimes he was just so wild I could not escape his arms, his fists.
I have had my first consult with a dentist, we have a payment plan.

I can get my teeth fixed and will not have to skip meals.

I have also brought new winter clothes for my children.

I left with nothing, but our car.

It is over three years and our car have new tyres.

But the biggest change is that I could sleep all night.

My boys cannot sleep unless Toby, their dog sleeps in their bedroom.

They have PTSD from the violence that they heard.

I thought I was hiding it from them.


I had just hocked my last piece of jewellery so we could pay Toby`s vet bills when the extra $550 all started.

I really do not have all the words to tell you what this extra money has done for me.

It has brought us hope.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

10 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 1.
Maintain the much welcome and critical Coronavirus Supplement at $550 per fortnight beyond 24th September 2020.

It is not too late to reverse this decision.

Unfortunately, the second wave and hot spots provide this impetus.

A change in policy would reflect the change in circumstance.

2.

Extend the Coronavirus Supplement to single mother households in receipt of Disability Support Pension, Carers Payment, Carers Allowance and Women in receipt of temporary visas.
This would immediately provide relief to struggling families and directly reach families who have escaped violence or need to leave but access to financial recourses is a barrier 3.

Provide an exemption to the parenting payment single for women affected by family and domestic violence.

Current exceptions and precedents already exist but unwisley not for domestic violence.

This would enable the retianment of th Include Poverty as priority within the National Plan to Reduce Violence.
Seeking and staying safe costs money, a lack of financial resources, an outcome of abuse that prohibits women from leaving.

Furthermore, it forces them to return to the place of abuse into the hands of their abuser.

4.

Include Poverty as priority within the National Plan to Reduce Violence.

Seeking and staying safe costs money, a lack of financial resources, an outcome of abuse that prohibits women from leaving.

Furthermore, it forces them to return to the place of abuse into the hands of their abuser.
5.

Remove the “income declaration” for the current and next financial year which can result in a debt to the government.

Noting the heightened turbulence of income estimation during this period and the increase in family and domestic violence.
Carers Research undertaken by Dr Elspeth McInnes, Poverty in Australian Society and the Relationship to Gender, adds voice The role of carers and the impact on economic security for women undertaken by Economic Security 4 Women that confirm that women perform the bulk of unpaid care.

Intuitively and statistically this is obvious, known and widely accepted.

Domestic Violence and the Pandemic have Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
11 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 illustrated the concerning realities.

Women providing care lose income opportunities.

Care work in families is fundamental to human survival, as explained by McInnes who also ask the question ‘should women be expected to continue to sacrifice their economic survival for love?
The Australian Human Rights Commission, ‘Investing in Care: Recognising and Valuing Those who Care’ (2013) confirms the economic plight of unpaid carers and the gendered profile of mainly women carers.

The report identifies the risks of unpaid care as a pathway to lifelong poverty, as women forgo earnings, savings, and career development opportunities.

When relationships end, necessitated because of violence, or perhaps the sole breadwinner becomes sick or disabled, women’s limited earnings are exposed.
Moreover, and as required in the pandemic women the only breadwinner had to leave paid earning to home-school thus identifying that the social institution of women’s unpaid care work in families is a key driver of women’s poverty.

The Voice of Women Carers: Hardship and Violence Statement provided by Leah who would be willing to appear before the Committee and or give further evidence.

I am a single mum to 3 beautiful children for whom I have 100% care.
I have been in receipt of Carer Payment since 2019 as my eldest son has been diagnosed with Autism and suffers from a number of debilitating anxiety disorders.

In 2016 I commenced a new relationship and unexpectedly fell pregnant with my third child.

Whilst the start of the relationship seemed promising, the individual quickly became verbally abusive, intimidating and threatening.
One night he drank too much, smashed up the hotel room we were in and laughed as he told me how he had held his ex-up against the wall by her throat and The ongoing financial stress that I was a fu**king dog just like her.

He told me he was going stemming directly from this to jump off the balcony and it was all my fault.

He took my abusive relationship continues phone, so I was unable to contact the police and he blocked the today.

doorway, so I was trapped.


That night I learnt the true meaning of fear.

When he learnt of my pregnancy, he demanded I get an abortion.

When I refused, he told me that he was going to come around and abort the child himself.

My older children and I stayed with my parents for the remainder of my pregnancy up until my baby was two months old as I was terrified to return I do not claim child support for this child as I am terrified of the ramifications.
I am solely responsible for the costs of raising our child.

home.

The ongoing financial stress stemming directly from this abusive relationship continues today.

I do not claim child support for this child as I am terrified of the ramifications.

I am solely responsible for the costs of raising our child.

I live every day in fear, but I cannot afford to move to a new house.

I Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
12 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 drive 20 minutes to a supermarket out of my area for a simple loaf of bread out of fear of running into him and putting my children at risk.

I have been unable to seek proper psychological care to begin to heal the trauma because I cannot afford the gap between the Medicare rebate from the mental health care plan and the fee charged.
Unfortunately, I am unable to seek employment due to the extensive care needs of my eldest child, so I am forced to rely solely on Carer Payment.

Four years after leaving this abusive relationship and the mental scars, constant fear and financial impact remain with no end in sight.

Gill can speak to Domestic Violence, Family Law, Post-Separation Control, flaws in Child Support, and the compounded hardship associated with Caring.

Gill would be available for further evidence if required by the Committee.
Gill would like the Committee to know that she is post graduated educated but spends the middle of her night to find ways forward for herself and her son.

This includes looking at caravans to rent, she is priced out of the housing market (Melbourne) and away from her son`s school where he has an Aid for his additional needs Hardship has resulted in her renting a sub- standard property.

Matters included leaking sewage, no working oven and the list goes on.
Gill needed legal support to get them fixed and is now battling a landlord who has been trying to evict through COVID 19.

Gill history includes Intervention Violence orders, domestic violence, and self-representing in Family Court against an ex-partner who was the perpetrators of the violence but also flushed with funds and employed an expensive legal team.
Post parenting orders, he has moved away from their location and does not utilised his time as per the parenting orders but Gill knows that if she were to relocate to Hobart to receive the support of her family that he would deny this application.

His control extends well into their post-separation life.

He is a high-income earner which does not match his child support.
Gill spends time applying through the ‘Change of Assessment’ to assist with the extra cost associated with the health, welfare, and development needs of her boy.

The Change of Assessment is time limited and due to expire in December 2020 reducing her child support from $900 per month to $200 per month.

Gill has been advised to restart the process in September 2020 as it a long process.

Gill asks why it cannot be ongoing as her son`s needs will continue.

protected.

system I feel invisible.


I work every day and night.

My son is loved and Yet, I must fight every Gill has asked for the decoupling of child-support from FTB (A) as receipt of child support reduces FTB and rent assistance whilst the increase in child support is spent on her child`s special needs, “it would make a world of difference and maybe alleviate some of our hardship”.
Gill wants the Committee to know as a career, she feels “invisible” she works tideless for her son and considered moving across to Parenting Payment when the Coronavirus Supplement was available, “every amount helps a family whose existence is hardship”.

Her expenses are numerous, and only some are covered or partly covered by NDIS.

Gill made the challenging Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
13 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 decisions to have an Autism Assessment completed with the combined out of pocket expenses a little below $1500.

Gill did this knowing that homelessness was probable but without this assessment there was no entry point into NDIS and the additional support for her son.

Disability: Hardship and Violence During the pandemic NCSMC was approached by single mothers in receipt of the Disability Support Pension.
Whilst welcoming the two payments of $750 they did spend time and resources to try and locate additional crisis and emergency relief support during this period.

It was not unusual for a single mother in receipt of the Disability Support Pension to leave the labour market due to a compromised immune system or the termination of casual work; losing both the mobility allowance and paid earnings in the quest to protect herself and her family from COVID-19.
Furthermore, she may had done that prior to the date to qualify for JobKeeper.

It was in further conversations that the presence of family and domestic violence, past and lingering added a degree of complexity, often overlaid by child support debt that rendered financial vulnerable.

‘Retraumatized’, ‘no longer standing on solid ground’, ‘the blanket has ripped out from underneath us’ were regular characterisation of this period.
Statement from Brenda who would be willing to provide more information to Committee members.

I experienced financial abuse pre and post separation and now has a large child support debt.

He also worked for family and managed to drop his income to base wage.

Furthermore, he sought and received a Doctor's letter as a preventative step to protect his mental health.

All information including the provisional amount was accepted by Child- Support.
He received a conviction for his violence but did not do jail time as an appeal was made that he was a required ‘employee’ in his family business.

He knows how to works the system.

My child support debt, my hardship and his control continue His control knows no boundaries.

He would not sign a passport for a family cruise several years ago.

An extended family holiday and a treat by my mother, she wanted all her family with her and knew that we would not have the funds to cover myself and my son.
He chose (ex) to spend a night in jail rather than sign the required passport application, despite an itinerary with a departure and return date (it was a cruise not a one-way ticket).

It ended up a court application.

This is just to set the scene, nothing is easy.

It is so sad that it has taken a pandemic to make a positive difference in people’s lives Mostly, we manage but the Coronavirus played havoc with our limited funds, we often dip our toe in hardship.
My condition does not allow me to drive, our common mode of transport is Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

14 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 public transport, but my health required me to use taxis.

Of course, this was rationed, I became more isolated which had adverse effects on my wellbeing and health.
I am ecstatic that women, single mums, and others receive the Coronavirus Supplement and my hope is that it will continue.

It is so, needed but please consider us, we needed so much more assistance.

It is so sad that it takes a pandemic to make a difference in people’s lives.

We ask the Committee to read out final pages that gives voice to Women with Disability.

It is substantive in length and content.


Temporary visas Single mothers on temporary visas also featured in a group that reported continued and increased financial distress which prohibited their ability to protect themselves for family and domestic violence.

Women are trapped, the Australian Parenting Order prohibits them to leave with their child while struggling to provide the essentials.
In moving forward, the relief that was provided by the coronavirus supplement, an extra $550 per fortnight would be greatly welcomed by single mother families who are in receipt of income support through Services Australia.

Case Study Maria`s visa prohibited her from accessing any income support and holds a Visa 500.
Prior to COVID 19, Maria supported and protected herself and her 13-year-old son through cobbling together insecure and on call work in the service industry whilst she attended a college (name removed) to access paid work at an amount that will carve out a brighter future for herself and her son.

Maria contacted NCSMC as she is in financial hardship, she was in arrears with her rent and with no foreseeable opportunity for paid work.
Maria had some superannuation; it was accessed to pay the college fees to respond to their constant pressure.

However, there was no willingness for the college to complete the required documentation for Maria to accessing support from the New South Wales Government.

This changed only when third party intervention and advocacy took place.
NCSMC can provide the contact details of Maria should the committee wish to enter further dialogue/ investigation Crisis Payment NCSMC welcomed the expansion of access to the crisis payment due to COVID 19 to include additional needs and cost pressures associated with quarantining and self-isolation.

It was a payment where eligibility thresholds rendered the payment ineffective.
However, even with relaxed thresholds the application of Services Australia has not matched the intent, and access and eligibility proved elusive.

It is not uncommon for single mother families to already skip meals, forgo medication and other health Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
15 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 and well-being necessities such as heating or cooling whilst seeking safety from family and domestic violence.

6.

Eligibility for the “crisis payment” is problematic and access is low.

The current 7-day timeframe is completely out-of-step of the reality of priorities to reporting domestic violence to Services Australia, a 21-day timeframe would be more reasonable.
Furthermore, it needs to be accessible for women leaving and or fleeing violent circumstances.

The amount, which is ½ the current payment is inadequate.

We recommend a ‘domestic violence payment’ that has additional amounts for children.

Signifying to the Australian community that Services Australia is a place to report domestic violence and that assistance can be provided.

Case Study.

Susan on two occasions applied for the crisis payment but was rejected.
Susan is a single mother with three children and diagnosed with cancer.

On two occasions her compromised immune system required her to take herself and her three children into self- isolation.

She is in extreme financial hardship, compounded by the cost of medication and her cancer treatment.

High rent was a feature before her illness, it was already a struggle.

Susan has no additional funds to relocate or the availability of cheaper accommodation.
On 11 May 2020, NCSMC had the capacity to transfer $400 due to a private donor (we had only just received the amount).

Susan and her three children were hungry, and she had not eaten in the last 24 hours which followed her severely restricting intake of food due to finances, exasperating her health issues.

Susan should qualify for crisis payment.

NCSMC managed to gain the support of Services Australia through .
The investigation from Services Australia included contacting Susan’s health provider and seeking the amount of money that she had in her bank account, which was $11 at that time.

Susan’s application for the crisis payment was denied.

This is the only support built into the safety net for women affected by family and domestic violence.

It fails its purpose even with thresholds are relaxed, and it most definitely fails it purpose for women affected by family and domestic violence.
The amount and timeframes are inadequate and obstacles.

Child Support: Family and Domestic Violence Child-support is a significant national policy that affects I million adults and one and half million children,vi and thus providing significant policy levers to increase the welfare, income security and certainty of children in their primary place of residence.

It has its potential to be part of the policy terrain and deliberations on the road to recovery.
The ATO and Services Australia must ensure that all Australians with a child-support agreement lodge an annual tax return within the stated prescribed time frames.

The non-lodgement of tax returns which now includes upwards of 200 child-support customers is associated with poor payment compliancevii.

The non-lodgement of tax returns is to avoid or minimise the paying of taxation and subsequently child-support.
It is a deliberate act with only one outcome to control, reduce and/or committee financial abuse.

There has never been a more Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

16 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 poignant time to address child support matters including the child-support debt which is recorded at $1.6 billion.
It is time to decouple child-support from FTB (A) by excluding child-support income in FTB (A) calculationsviii.

This has a twofold benefit, firstly and most notably, it will provide greater support for families through increased family assistance and rental assistance.

It would treat child-support similarly to how “other income” is treated for two-parent families within the same family assistance system, removing the discriminant harsh thresholds as experienced by sole parents.
Furthermore, it removes the raising of a family assistance debt based upon the poor compliance practice of the father as his ‘real’ income may not be revealed for years.

Often a deliberate form of post-separation economic abuse and control, and whilst her debt will stand with the Government, there is no guarantee that child support will be collected or transferred.
Child Support policy should recognise and acknowledge that child support payments have reduced and/or more volatile due to COVID-19, which will remain during the subsequent recovery period.

This change responds to a longstanding need and a subsequent recommendation within the Taskforce (2005) but was never implemented.

It also provides the Australian Government with the policy alternative to the implementation of a state guaranteed/minimum payment guaranteed.
NCSMC is still committed to such a state guaranteed payment and identifies a raft of advantages, especially for women affected by family and domestic violence, but is continuingly met with government reluctance.

Women`s Voices NCSMC received over 31 responses in two days regarding child support, financial abuse, and post-separation control.

The Federal Court judge yelled at him, saying “I know you are doing everything you can to avoid child support”.

His control continued.


I still had to pay court costs of $7200 and owed $3800.

Help please My story speaks to the system failing me and my children.

He has set up a trust and it is structured not to pay CS to pay.

Re property settlement he just wanted a trial.

He knew I could not afford it.

We have three children, I have 100% care, he lives interstate.

Our youngest is disabled.

I live on Carers.

He earns $3000 a week.

For property settlement he ‘gave’ me 28% or go to trial.
I am on the verge of homelessness.

He moved interstate ten years ago and he does not he does not pay child support.

It is just tragic.

I would not want it to happen to anyone else.

I did have outstanding Child Support debt from my ex, but he finally paid it all two days before the Mention Hearing at the Magistrates Court to extend the intervention order.

It has now gone to a directions hearing, scheduled for September.
I will have to pay a lawyer to represent me since my ex has utilised both the (state Removed) Legal Aid and (location removed) Community Legal service for previous IVO hearings and when he was charged with assaulting a police officer.

I am using the same lawyer as I am paying to represent me in the Family Law Court.

Luckily, my lawyer offered a payment plan and she is very good.
I spoke to a Centrelink Social Worker back in early January because of the Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

17 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Child Support debt and varied income estimate every second week from my ex.

They exempted me from Child Support as I made a statement saying that there was an IVO and I was scared to pursue for the money owing as it might increase risk to myself and my children.
In this way he is no longer able to financially abuse me……….

I should say that I receive the single parent pension - or whatever it is called these days.

The extra money each fortnight means that I do not have to have a boarder in - the last ones were a couple, and there was intimate partner violence involved there.

I can feed the kids without exposing ourselves to the risk of violence.
He does not lodge his returns, he told me he is waiting until (name removed) has finished second year of high school, he will go “insolvent’ and I will get a big huge debt.

My ex has not done his tax since 2016.

He owes over 5k in child support.

I did change of assessment and they could see he had earnt 57k not the 13k as he wrote, and they accepted.

But now it is tax time it is reverted down to the 13k estimate 7.
Close the loopholes that enable 200+ Australians to avoid and minimise their taxation and child support obligations through the non-lodging of tax returns.

Thus, fulfilling their responsibility to the 1.2 million children in the scheme.

No compliance is pattern that is premised upon financial abuse and control and lived effect is minimised and volatile payments for women in the Scheme.

Most payees are women with low incomes.

8.


Decoupled child-support from FTB (A) by excluding child-support income in FTB (A) calculations to compensate for the volatile and reduced child support payments always present but highlighted by COVID 19.

No compliance is a calculated behaviour that is premised upon financial abuse and control with the aim to leave the payer, mostly low- income women, with a family payment debt whilst no guarantee of payments.
See Swinburne University report, Debts and Disappointment: Mothers' Experiences of the Child Support System.

9.

Elevate child support debt for it to be considered within parenting deliberations and available before the mediators and decision makers in the Courts.

Furthermore, child support debt and or payments should be included in credit ratings.

10.

Provide women with a choice to enter a State Guarantee Payment as an alternative to not receiving child support due to safety reasons.
Currently the system perversely awards the perpetrator of violence.

11.

Reconvene the Child Support National Stakeholder Engagement Group.

A national group that brought together Government and Non-Government organisations that focused upon matters and needs for families in post-separation with a key focus on child support, essential as it is one of the more emotive and complex pieces of legislation.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
18 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Reconvene the Child Support National Stakeholder Engagement Group.

A national group that brought together Government and Non-Government organisations that focused upon matters and needs for families in post-separation with a key focus on child support, one of the more emotive and complex pieces of legislation.
The meeting provided organisations such as NCSMC to have a way to communicate with the policy makers and service providers, raise emerging issue (individual and systematic) as well as providing solutions.

Issue now become complex and the process of seeking remedies includes formal complaint process, seeking the service of the Ombudsman and or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal all of which takes a toil upon everyday parents.

As illustrated below as NCSMC searched out one person to whom they could email.
The Child Support Stakeholder email address is no longer in operation.

Email Sent 5/6/2020 from NCSMC to Services Australia Ms (name removed) phoned the family payments branch and informed them that her daughter was in her final year of secondary school.

Services Australia are disputing the receipt of this call and consequently sent a letter stating that she had not undertaken the maintenance action test (attached), reducing her family tax benefits and access to important healthcare card.
Ms R is disputing receiving a reminder letter in February 2020.

Ms (name removed) phoned Services Australia, upon receipt of the attached letter, and kept a reference number of the call and the primary person who she spoke.

Her matter was transferred between the branch that had responsibility for child-support and those responsible for family tax benefits.

It was deemed that she had “failed” the maintenance action test.
Ms R, asked for some alternative options such as reopening her child-support case, contacting the school et cetera, but these options were denied.

Ms R daughter has medical needs that require medication which is particularly cost prohibited without family tax benefit and access to subsidise medication.
Ms (name removed) contacted the National Council of Single Mothers and the Children Inc after complaining to Services Australia and then the Ombudsman which has been acknowledged but will take time for an investigation.

I am seeking your support as your intervention would be able to remedy this and expediate the issue through reopening the case.
It would appear a logical and sensible outcome noting the important that the family tax benefit/subsidised medication has within her household and noting the heightened stress associated with COVID 19.

Ms R spoke about the stress and despair.

Re-opening the case would be consistent with the legislation.

Outcome: Her child support case was not reopened and on 21st June 2020, Ms R sent at text to NCSMC to inform us that the stress due to the situation and the looming hardship had resulted in hospitalising.
We hope that one of the Committee members will follow up on this matter as we do not understand how a system becomes so inflexible that hospitalising is an outcome.

The Australian Superannuation Industry provides a haven to those with a child-support debt.
The easing of access to superannuation needs to be extended to parties within a child-support agreement who have a substantiated child-support debt, access should be granted to avoid the continual practice Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

19 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 of hiding and funnelling money into superannuation accounts rather than meeting their financial obligations to support the children.
The volatility and shortfall of child support payments have led to women seeking NCSMC’s advice regarding the capacity for them to access their superannuation.

To this end, we recommend that if women meet a reduced threshold of 15% in their child support payments that they too can access early withdrawals of separation that mirror the current COVID-19 practices.
We further request that the Implement the Economic Statement (REF) for women, most pivotal providing Courts with access to the Australian Tax Office enabling full disclosure of Superannuation Funds.

20.

Extend access to superannuation accounts held by the “payer” where child-support debt has been substantiated by Services Australia.

Superannuation has become a haven to ‘hide’ money and not pay child support.
Furthermore, allow early access to superannuation for women who need to offset reduce child support payments with similar thresholds of 15%.

We make this recommendation understanding the long-term implications but whilst the income support remains inadequate and the child support debt is $1.6 Billion other strategies are required.

21.
21.

Implement the Women’s Economic Security Statement (2018) for women, most pivotal providing Courts with access to the Australian Tax Office enabling full disclosure of Superannuation Funds.

Currently representing myself.

I Subpoenaed his super, the court required it by a date back in April.

Court is yet to receive any response from the super fund.

I have contacted the super fund, several times, and they told me they sent the statements twice, by express mail.
Mine did not give up any financials including super and I did not have the means to take him to court Could not access it on Legal aid so had to forgo that.

Ridiculous how often we walk away with nothing especially in DV situation.

It is hard coming back from that Childcare A positive lesson from the pandemic was the essential link between productivity and access to free childcareix, especially in single mother families where there is no other parent.
It would be sensible to extend free childcare for families who qualify for family tax benefit payments, and for other families for it to be at an affordable level.

22.

Maintain free child-care for Australians who are eligible for the FTB.

Providing access to childcare for families who are reconfiguring a new life and managing all the elements that are part of that process.
Universal childcare has a raft of benefits including early education and socialisation in a safe and nurturing age appropriate environment.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
20 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 Compliance and Suspension The compliance and suspension rules that regulate employment assistant programs are so ingrained that they command a place of centrality and dictate engagement, reporting and service.
In an economy where employment and underemployment will remain high, it is time to review the value of the compliance system, the stress that it produces, the time it deducts from critical services and the expense associated with such rules and regime.

Furthermore, exemptions granted on the grounds of family and domestic violence is never commiserate with the nationwide figures.
Engagement” to replace “suspension and compliance” within the job network and that a full review is undertaken as to why exemptions granted on the rounds of family and domestic violence is never commiserate with the nationwide figures.

The ParentsNext program was the first to call a halt to the compliance and suspension, acknowledging the distress that was evident in participants.
The program which targets families with young children, aged six months to 6 years, was never the location for such harsh compliance.

COVID-19 provides an opportunity for the Department to undertake an evaluation of the participants’ views as there is now comparable contrast between a program that is underpinned by compliance and suspension or one that is based upon compassion and engagement.

NCSMC has presented this option to the Department.


It must be noted that the ParentsNext program has never undergone an evaluation with the compliance suspension regime whilst the expansion and rollout at best a costly experimental exercise.

NCSMC continues to emphasise the voice of participants and argues that if service providers are well connected in the community and offer a valuable program, then people will attend.
We further raise concerns that participants within the ParentsNext program report that the program has retraumatised, it has made them feel more unsafe and there was not confidence that the provider had the skills set to manage family and domestic violence with too much discretion for unqualified providers.
A much-improved option would be to redirect the current spend on the program into a pool of funds that participants can access to purchase the items and supports that they identify as benefiting their family.

This current economic environment requires a reconfiguration of key policy influences in the job network, starting with removing compliance and suspension and replacing it with engagement and support.
This policy change would be consistent with the Government’s goal of improving mental health outcomes.

The stress and anxiety that the job network produces cannot be underestimated.

However, evaluations do not seek to source that information.

The current Service Australia Declaration needs to be suspended for the current and next financial year.
This action will accommodate volatile earnings and assist with the challenges in predicting income based upon precarious and complexity income earnings, and our current history of the Robo Debt.

We understand that there was not a disaggregation of women who had a debt and had Family and domestic Violence.

This period has had a heightened turbulence of income estimation and the increase in family and domestic violence.

Consequently, we seek this process to be disbanded.
Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

21 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 23.

24.

25.

Remove “compliance and suspension” within the ParentsNext program.

It is currently halted, and it should never resume.

The poor, inconstant and the need to attend when affected by domestic violence is more aligned to retraumatised than assistance.
NCSMC points to a unanimous concern at the Senate Inquiry including human rights and that the evaluation and roll-out of the program never included the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF) which appeared after the evaluation.

Essentially participants of a pre- vocational program with babies and incredibly young children can and does have their payment suspended.
“Engagement” to replace “suspension and compliance” within the job network especially at this current time and a full review is undertaken as to why exemptions granted on the grounds of family and domestic violence is never commiserate with the nationwide figures.

Remove the “income declaration” for the current and next financial year which can result in a debt to the government.

Noting the heightened turbulence of income estimation during this period and the increase in family and domestic violence.
Safety and shared care Increased media reports, influx on social media indicates that there was a general increase regarding the awareness of gendered violence and the inherent dangers mostly for women and children when a “lockdown” and social isolation with an abuser became the norm.

Creating a dynamic that replicates the preference of an abuser, greater control, isolation, and surveillance.
Services were exploring individual and creative responses to stay in contact, additional services were made available 1800 respect, mental health services and frontline services were granted ‘emergency response status’.

However, a limitation was that it was premised upon women having the capacity to access support and assistance.
Creative solutions were missing such as codewords in phone medical appointments, access to public safety zones, mobile phones in places where women may have been able to attend alone or have some alone time such as hospitals maternity wards, chemist, grocery stores and women’s toilets in shopping centres.

We note that in New Zealand, shielded site instituted chat Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
22 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 messages partnering with large department stores.

NCSMC kept populating the capacity of dialling “55” an option within the 000 system that acknowledges that it may be unsafe to speak.

At the start of COVID-19, it was the challenge to find this information.
Restrictions are lifting but our concern remains as this could potentially be a particularly dangerous time for women, as the abuser is starting to lose control, not dissimilar to the heightened dangerous associated with separation.

Court and Safety NCSMC also supports the institution of COVID-19 court listings and our feedback has been to incorporate a quick process to identify the presence of family and domestic violence.
The learnings from this pandemic must be translated into action and policy solutions to make Australia safer for women and children.

Shared care arrangements are often subject to school holidays and the school week.

This pandemic created a fluidity to these timeframes which normally have a sense of certainty.

Furthermore, there was movement restrictions within states, with interstate borders closes and/or quarantining measures.
All of this added to a heightened sense of anxiety for single mothers, who had no means to directly contact the Australian court system to determine how they should proceed.

It would have been highly beneficial and safety strategy to have an 1800 number managed by duty officers/lawyers which could provide advice, guidance and to document forced unilateral changes (if needed).
It is our view that such service would still have significant merit for women, especially women affected by post-separation gender violence and control.

We welcome and inform the Committee the consultation undertaken with the Chief Justice.

Thus far, consulting with women's legal services as well as women's safety organisations, noting that the Women's Safety NSW is consulting more broadly through AWAVA and with survivor advocates.
NCSMC views this as important dialogue and one that must continue especially at key policy deliberations.

• • • • We have welcomed the naming of a concern and view this as a step towards resolving, and therefore it is significant that the Chief Justice is acknowledging a nationwide Domestic Family Violence crisis.

It is incumbent upon the family courts to operate in a manner that does not extend and further harm those who are the most vulnerable but actively work towards alleviating the crisis.
It is significant that the Chief Justice is acknowledging the importance of prioritising DFV cases and that the courts need to be accessible right across the Country- including regional, rural, and remote areas, a real learning from COVID 19.

We support of an ongoing national online urgent family violence list to deal with matters swiftly to ameliorate risk of immediate harm to adult and child victims of Domestic Family Violence.

Women and children can be trapped in a dark place for years.
We support sharing a pool of highly qualified and specialist Family Law Judges to hear these matters.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

23 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 • We support implementing a National family violence and abuse screening and risk assessment process for all family law matters and a triaging of cases for appropriate support and specialist case management.

26.

27.
26.

27.

Replicate the current ‘Family Court list dedicated to COVID-19 parenting issues and use this model for all women affected by family and domestic violence.

An initiative has the potential to keep families and children safer, as its more affordable, its accessible, attendance is safer and with appropriate screening processes it can be equipped to manage family and domestic violence as well as litigation abuse.
Seeking safety should not be a spiral into financial hardship or features in the lives of separated parents for years, even decades post separation.

It is desperation burden to manage when combined with the sole parenting.

Pass the Family Law Amendment (A Step Towards a Safer Family Law System) Bill 2020.

We must amend the Family Law Act 1975 to remove provisions relating to the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility making parenting orders and grant primacy to safety for children.
The recommendation reflects A better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence, and the 2019 Australian Law Reform Commission report Family Law for the Future - An Inquiry into the Family Law System.

We much allow women to relocate.

A key to safety should include separation.

I am a migrant, and I left my ex soon after my daughter was born.

He had physically and sexually assaulted me, repeatedly.

He deprived me of breath, so that I thought I would die.
He was financially abusive, too, although I did not realise that at the time.

He used to say that he always expects to get his own way.

When I challenged him, he liked to talk about the low cost of contract killers.

I did not know it when I left, but the injuries I sustained were to lead to permanent disability.

I also did not know that I would be expected to co-parent with this man, who swore as I left to make every day of my life a living hell.
Making arrangements and managing changeovers was a nightmare.

One day, he punched me in a police station, but nobody saw a thing.

It took three years of family court to get an outcome, in which my daughter was ordered to spend substantial time with him, but I did at least get awarded sole parental responsibility, so that I could make decisions about school and health.

There were many exceptions, though, including travel.
In spite of having a terminally ill parent, I was not allowed to take my daughter from the country to visit without my ex’s permission.

Over and over, he declined.

We have not been allowed to visit my family, in a Hague Convention signatory country, for a decade.

My daughter is devastated that she could not visit and would never have the Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
24 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 memory of hugging her favourite extended family member.

She does not get to camp out with her cousins, or to read favourite books with her uncle.

It hurts her more than me.

We cannot relocate, even though we have no family here, so we are left to get through it alone – I receive zero child support, as the Dept of Human Services considered that pursuing it would put my daughter and I at greater risk.
The orders in place required that my daughter be mad to visit her father against her wishes, after she told the court of his abuse towards her.

She first became suicidal in primary school, and doctors tell me she has PTSD from the trauma.

They tell me I probably do too.

In closing we urge the Committee to take the time to read the provided case study as stated identified on page 15.

I am a parent living on the DSP.


I am studying vet tech because I desperately want a career so I can escape the cycle of poverty.

I have a 3.5-year-old daughter.

I experienced domestic violence from my child's father before I left him.

He controlled my money, my friends, and my world.

He denied me medical care when my health issues flared up and I needed him to help me get to a doctor, he refused and made me stay with our child.
I could not load her into the car and take myself because I was in too much pain, so I had to suffer through the pain until I was well enough to go to a doctor.

It all started with him smelling bad, like really bad.

He was not depressed, he just felt that he did not need to shower for me.

The whole house would smell of his body odour.

It was so deeply embarrassing that I stopped having friends over.
That seemed accidental, like everything always seemed accidental, and he always attacked me verbally if I tried to bring it up, no matter how kind or sweet I tried to be about it.

He would cry and say that his dad had treated him badly when he was a teenager about his smell and puberty and stuff.

He started to make it seem like I was abusing HIM!!

He did this with everything, until I was afraid to make any decisions or believe my own opinion.
It has taken ages for me to convince myself that I am not the abuser.

Even though I knew what he was doing, and could see some mind games going on, he was still supremely good at flipping it and making me think I had done terrible things to him.

Like, me getting upset and angry that he had not paid the rent and then had concealed multiple texts about our overdue rent- that was apparently me being abusive!!
It was horrible because I came from a terribly abusive family so to be told I was doing that just panicked and controlled me so well.

Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

25 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 A huge issue for us was money.

As soon as I moved in with him my DSP was cut from the single to the partnered rate and I lost around $180pftnt I believe.
That made it so hard for me to pay for medication, run a car and pay for parking, and retain my independence.

One scary aspect was that when he worked, money was taken from my DSP because it was assumed that we would share the money.

But that meant I was dependent on him for money when he had worked.
And he often wouldn't give it to me or would verbally abuse me about having to give me money, to the point where I negotiated with him that if he worked, he could give me a small amount of money, so when he worked I usually lost $40-50 a fortnight.

Because of all these aspects and because of my health issues it was hard to leave him.

I had no savings and I could not collect the money to be able to pay rent on a new flat or pay for movers and all the moving costs.
In the end I was extremely lucky that I found some people to help me and I found a really cheap rental through an acquaintance who took some sympathy.

I was also lucky that someone at the Centrelink office took pity on me and helped me get approved for single rate of DSP and FTA and B while I was still living in his rental house, so I could put together a little bit of money.

But I have had a friend go through something similar and the staff at the Centrelink office did not help her or believe her.
She is not as articulate or educated as me and it makes me so sad and angry to think that I may have received better treatment for those reasons when she needed help as much as I did.

It should not be a case by case basis where some people get helped on a whim.

Without the incredibly good luck I had, the punitive partnered rules on the DSP might have kept me stuck to him for years longer.

Another issue I have now is childcare, and it is preventing me from finishing my degree.
The DSP is too low for me to be able to afford to pay someone for occasional care.

I can't book my daughter into childcare for the days her dad is supposed to have her or I would be in breach of our agreement and he has assured me he would take me to court, which would eat up all of my time and stop me from studying.

But when I am studying, he often says he cannot take her.

So, I am left to care for our daughter when I should be undertaking mandatory practicum.
I have failed out of a course twice due to this.

I worry about his influence on her, but I have no choice but to let him have access to her or the courts might consider me a hostile parent and order she has more contact with him than she does now.

And yet, he uses his contact with her to continue to control and sabotage me.

I do not know if I can finish my degree while he continues to do this.
If I had more money, I could pay someone safe and qualified to care for my daughter when her dad does this, and I could finish my degree, but I am stuck.

This keeps me in poverty and is so, so exhausting.

When he decides not to see my daughter, I must study for exams Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.
26 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141 i ACOSS and UNSW Sydney, May 2020, Poverty In Australia 2020 Report’ ii Dr Dados, N and Taksa, L. 14th April 2020, Pandemic's economic blow hits women hard, Macquarie University https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/april-2020/Pandemics-economic-blow-hits-women-hard iii The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2019, The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey: Selected Findings from Waves 1 to 17 https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3127664/HILDA-Statistical-Report- 2019.pdf iv Hutley, N. 21 May 2020, Jobseeker beyond Covid19, Deloitte Access Economics v Davidson, P., Saunders, P., Bradbury, B. and Wong, M. (2018), Poverty in Australia 2018.
ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership Report No.

2, Sydney: ACOSS vi https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/annual-report-191019-v2.pdf Services Australia, Annual Report 2018-19, Child Support, Part 7 pp 109 to 113. vii Cook, K. 2013, Child support compliance and tax return non-filling: A feminist analysis, RMT University viii Cook, K. Goodall, Z. McLaren, J. Edwards, T. December 2019, Debts and Disappointment: Mothers Experience of The Child Support System.
Swinburn University and National Council of Single Mothers & their Children Inc. ix Jenkins, K. April 2020, The gendered impact of COVID-19.

The Australian Human Rights Commission.

https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/gendered-impact-covid-19 Eliminate and respond to violence, hardship and inequality for single mothers and their children.

27 Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violenceSubmission 141