A national alliance of women’s organisations, the Non Payment of Child Support Working Group, welcomes the Federal Government’s $182.6 million investment in strengthening the child support system to ensure women and their children receive the support they are entitled to. The investment is a necessary step forward and signals growing recognition of the need for stronger enforcement, better oversight, and system design to prevent the child support system from being used as a tool of harm by perpetrators of violence.

Quotes from Dr Jennie Gray, CEO Women’s Legal Service WA
“The Non Payment of Child Support Working Group members were excited to see the significant commitment in the 2026–27 Federal Budget to address the weaponisation of the child support system. As it stands, the child support system reinforces traditional power dynamics, facilitates economic abuse, and fails to address the profound impacts of non-payment on children. We know that there are many loopholes in the system that enable perpetrators to facilitate abuse, including after separation. This is a wicked and complex social problem. The effects on mothers and their children are material and disempowering.”

“The identification of these loopholes, and strategies to remedy widespread systemic failure is an important first step, and we congratulate the government on recognising this. We look forward to building on these reforms.”

Read the full media release here: Media Release – Advocates welcome Budget investment to address economic abuse and weaponisation of the child support system