The Australian Labor government is introducing sweeping legislation to overhaul the child support system, described as the biggest reform in decades. The changes will allow overseas mothers to apply directly to Services Australia for child support from Australian parents who have fathered children abroad, with the agency assessing and collecting payments on their behalf. The government aims to recover approximately £2 billion in unpaid child support whilst strengthening protections for victims of domestic violence who have been subjected to abuse through the system.

The reforms form part of a £186 million budget package and target parents who deliberately avoid obligations by failing to lodge tax returns, understating income or refusing payments. Key changes include increasing wage deduction collections through employers, giving single parents easier access to recover unpaid debts from July 2027, and granting Services Australia greater powers to withhold sensitive personal information from abusive ex-partners. An ABC investigation in 2024 highlighted that tens of thousands of Filipino children are believed to have been fathered by Australians and New Zealanders who have played no role in their lives; the new measures aim to address such cases through enhanced enforcement mechanisms.