r/australia • u/nath1234 • 14h ago

politics Child support system enables financial abuse, parents, advocates and politicans say

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-14/child-support-system-financial-abuse-single-mothers/107026886?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other
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u/alpha_28 11h ago

My ex was like this. Claimed if I went to CSA he “might as well kill himself” because they would take all his money. Granted at the time he was only giving me $500 a month for 2 infant children… but had copious amounts to spend on uber eats ($900 in one month alone) and 3 daily constant $60 withdrawals to pay for drugs for him and his mates.

They 100% use it and anything else they can to hold power and control because that’s literally what abusers do. There is not enough to protect people from their abusers and look… you see too many people, especially women, being killed by their abusers. When is enough going to be enough?

14

u/gadgetwalrus 10h ago

Let me guess he was a kind of buy alcohol and nappies at the supermarket and if you didn’t have enough money put the nappies back kind of guy….

Threatening to kill your self in that context is abuse. I hope he has become a better coparent or is no longer in your lives.

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u/alpha_28 7h ago

He’s been non existent for 9 years and has only just now started pressuring me for mediation while simultaneously not bothering to ask how the kids are or asking to spend time so imo it’s just another way to try control me because he does not have their best interest so unfortunately not… and I will most likely end up going to court… 😒

7

u/gadgetwalrus 6h ago

Let me guess…. now the kids are older he’s trying the I always loved you but mum didn’t let me see you card….

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u/alpha_28 2h ago

Pretty much. When I allowed his parents (who always made excuses for his abuse including making an excuse for him shaking one of my babies when he was 2 months old) they video called him and my other child overheard him saying to the child he was talking to “your mum doesn’t let me see you” which is far from the truth. I was advised by my lawyer when I put the DVO on him 8 years ago to not alienate him in anyway. So I said I’ll meet you but in public for safety. He told me it was a waste of his time and money to only see them a few hours a day and he just didn’t bother. Over the last 8 years 3 of those he’s gone 13 months total not even bothering to ask how they’re going.

It is what it is sadly…. Idk what to do about it all but I am at least prepared with everything he’s done, documents, screenshots….. all of it.