Asenati Lole-Taylor MP
Spokesperson for Social Policy

18 December 2013

Child Support Scheme Delays Penalise Families

New Zealand First has questioned the Government’s lack of preparation in implementing reforms to the Child Support Scheme Amendment Act.

Inland Revenue informed the Government that more time is needed to implement the new scheme, which will not come into place until 1 April 2015 with remaining changes rolling out a year later.

Social policy spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says the Government needs to immediately address the on-going delays in the child support scheme as it would see many parents in shared care agreements penalised for a further 12 months.

“This is the second time it has been delayed to enable the IRD enough time to implement the changes.

“During the first stages of the select committee process the IRD was questioned if their technology and systems were competent enough to handle the reforms, so why has it taken the Government until now to realise they are not?

“With the debacle that has been Novopay, the Government must ensure that families on the child support scheme are not open to the same fate.

“There are too many New Zealand families struggling as it is, so the IRD cannot continue to delay changes which will see families suffer financially through no fault of their own”, says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

ENDS

© Scoop Media