Sunday Tasmanian

'Deadbeat mums' call: Access woe for father
By GILL VOWLES;

02jul06

A HEARTBROKEN Tasmanian father has called on the Federal Government to devote equal resources to pursuing "deadbeat mums". The man, who cannot be named, said while he supported a new $143 million Child Support Agency compliance campaign intended to prosecute dads who did not support their children, many mothers were also doing the wrong thing.

Last week the Sunday Tasmanian reported the case of a Tasmanian mother-of-two who said her ex-husband had minimised his income to lower child support and then stopped paying it at all to get back at her for divorcing him.

Several other Tasmanian women contacted the Sunday Tasmanian last week with almost identical stories.

The Child Support Agency has now started an investigation into the mother's case.

However, the Tasmanian father said there were plenty of deadbeat mums who deserved the same level of scrutiny. "I am not the only heartbroken man in Tasmania, or Australia, because of access or child support issues," he said.

"There are plenty of men who can't see their children, or who are being used as cash cows by women who only got involved so they could have children and use the system."

The father-of-two has not seen his two-year-old son since February and has spent only an hour with his six-year-old daughter in the past three years.

As a result he attempted suicide earlier this year and says he spends most of his nights "bawling in bed".

"I pay child support -- I would give my last cent to my kids -- but their mothers will not let me see them, so for the past six years I have been continually involved in court cases to try to get access to my children," he said.

"I just don't know where it is going to end and I was prepared to lie down and die when I took the overdose. "There are still times when I just want to end it all, but then I remember that if I do that the kids will never get the chance to know who I am and how much I love them."

The man said he attempted to stay in contact with his children, who both live on the mainland, by phone but their mothers made it difficult.

"I ring my daughter twice a week but she is being brainwashed by her mother and tells me she doesn't want to talk to me," he said.

The man said deadbeat dads who didn't support their children made it harder for dads like him who desperately wanted to be part of their kids' lives.

"But there are just as many deadbeat mums who won't let fathers have access to their kids or who rip off the system," he said. "The Federal Government should do something to help us as well as pursue men who don't pay their child support obligations."

Counselling services are available for anyone contemplating suicide. Phone Lifeline on 131 114 or access the internet on www.reachout.com.au