Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Hansard source

As I highlighted yesterday in the chamber, in relation to the need for these amendments on sheet 8425, our concern is that the retrospective application of amended child support assessments will have negative consequences. I take issue with what the minister said yesterday in reply to this concern, which was along the lines that it would only apply in the case of an actually accrued debt. I can't recall exactly how the minister framed it. But, in that context, I need to ask the minister this specifically: if someone is paid child support and they are on a low income, how would the problem of them acquiring a debt be addressed when it is unsustainable for them to pay it back to the person who paid the child support reasonably and it was received in good faith?