Changes to child support payment legislation have been introduced to federal parliament after a court highlighted flaws in the system.
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Under the measures, amendments will be put in place for when interim periods apply for child support payments.
Interim periods are often used as part of court orders to determine a percentage payment that a parent has to make as part of child support arrangements.
It's also used to ensure a parent withholding care does not financially benefit through higher family tax benefit payments.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the changes to the interim period, introduced in the lower house on Wednesday, were needed.
Previous amendments introduced in 2018 limited when the periods could apply to the start of a new child support assessment.
A Federal Court ruling in February found the 2018 amendments did not operate as intended.
"The government is taking action to quickly resolve the legislative uncertainty," Ms Rishworth told parliament.
"Passage of this bill is essential to ensure child support legislation clearly outlines where interim periods can apply. Interim periods are an important and long-standing feature of the child support scheme."
The minister said the changes would still see existing rules apply to protect children and parents at risk of domestic and family violence.
Under the amendments, changes would be put in place to make sure interim period decisions made since the 2018 legislation would be brought into line.
"This is important to minimise the impact on parents and carers who may otherwise be financially disadvantaged by having these decisions disrupted," Ms Rishworth said.
Australian Associated Press
