Mr Price asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, upon notice, on 7 October 2003:

(1) When were prescribed payments for Child Support introduced.

(2) How many and what proportion of payers have utilised prescribed payments for each year of its operation.

(3) How has the Child Support Agency (CSA) publicised the availability of prescribed payments.

(4) Has the CSA undertaken any studies to determine whether or not CSA clients are aware of prescribed payments; if so, what were the results; if not, why not.

Mr Anthony (Minister for Children and Youth Affairs) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Since 1 July 1999 payers can pay up to 25 per cent of their child support on specified items without requiring the agreement of the payee. The remaining 75 per cent needs to be paid. Specified items include mortgage, school fees, health costs, car and utility expenses.

(2)

(3) Prescribed payments are mentioned in the following CSA publications:

Non-Agency Payments fact sheet (CSA 2757)

Making payments to the Child Support Agency fact sheet (CSA 3011)

CSA Assessment Handbook (CSA 1909)

Objections fact sheet (CSA 2759)

These publications are available by calling CSA on 131 272 or via the CSA Website, www.csa.gov.au.

CSA also has an online version of the NAP form (CSA 1650) where payers can notify CSA of a prescribed payment.

There is also detailed information and examples of prescribed payments on the CSA Website, http://www.csa.gov.au/parents/nap.htm and in The Guide located in the Legal Section of the CSA Website.

The CSA Update magazine covered prescribed payments in an article titled `The Child Support Scheme: Education costs' in the July 2003 issue.

Information on prescribed payments is also provided to CSA clients via the phone, in writing through fact sheets and in person during interviews.

(4) No. However, the growth in utilisation suggests increasing awareness among parents.