Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989
Child Support (Assessment) (Annualised Male Total Average Weekly Earnings Amount and Costs of the Children Table) Notice 2024
I, Michael Lye, Secretary of the Department of Social Services, give notice under subsection 155(2) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 that, for all child support periods starting in 2025:
- the annualised MTAWE figure for the quarter ending on 30 June 2024 is $89,523 and
- the Costs of the Children Table, incorporating the annualised MTAWE figure of $89,523 and other amounts in the table worked out using this figure, is the following table headed 2025 Costs of the Children Table.
Michael Lye
Secretary
12 December 2024
2025 Costs of the Children Table
Parents' combined child support income or parent’s child support income |
No. of | $0 | $44,763 | $89,524 | $134,286 | $179,047 | Income |
children | to | to | to | to | to | over |
| $44,762[1] | $89,523[2] | $134,285[3] | $179,046[4] | $223,808[5] | $223,808[5] |
| Costs of the children | | |
All children aged 0 - 12 years | | | | |
1 child | | $7,610 | $14,324 | $19,695 | $24,171 | $27,304 |
| 17c for | plus 15c for | plus 12c for | plus 10c for | plus 7c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
2 children | | $10,743 | $21,038 | $29,990 | $38,047 | $42,523 |
| 24c for | plus 23c for | plus 20c for | plus 18c for | plus 10c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
3 + children | | $12,086 | $23,724 | $34,915 | $45,658 | $53,715 |
| 27c for | plus 26c for | plus 25c for | plus 24c for | plus 18c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
All children aged 13 + years | | | | |
1 child | | $10,295 | $20,142 | $25,513 | $29,989 | $34,018 |
| 23c for | plus 22c for | plus 12c for | plus 10c for | plus 9c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
2 children | | $12,981 | $25,514 | $36,705 | $45,657 | $51,476 |
| 29c for | plus 28c for | plus 25c for | plus 20c for | plus 13c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
3 + children | | $14,324 | $28,200 | $41,629 | $54,610 | $63,562 |
| 32c for | plus 31c for | plus 30c for | plus 29c for | plus 20c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
Children of mixed age | | | | |
2 children | | $11,862 | $23,276 | $33,347 | $41,852 | $47,000 |
| 26.5c for | plus 25.5c for | plus 22.5c for | plus 19c for | plus 11.5c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
3 + children | | $13,205 | $25,962 | $38,272 | $50,134 | $58,639 |
| 29.5c for | plus 28.5c for | plus 27.5c for | plus 26.5c for | plus 19c for | |
| each $1 | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | each $1 over | |
| | $44,762 | $89,523 | $134,285 | $179,046 | |
[1] 0.5 times annualised MTAWE figure
[2] Annualised MTAWE figure
[3] 1.5 times annualised MTAWE figure
[4] 2 times annualised MTAWE figure
[5] 2.5 times annualised MTAWE figure
Overview
The Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for a systematic and fair method of calculating child support payments. This legislation established the legal framework for determining the amount of child support that one parent should pay to the other based on their respective incomes and the costs associated with raising children. The Act ensures that child support assessments are consistent, transparent, and equitable. The 2025 Costs of the Children Table Notice, issued by Michael Lye, Secretary of the Department of Social Services, updates the annualised Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) figure and related costs for child support assessments starting in 2025, aiming to reflect current economic conditions and family living costs. This Notice is instrumental in maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of the child support scheme in supporting the well-being of children.
Scope and Application
The Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 applies to all parents who are required to make child support payments, and those who receive such payments, in Australia. This includes individuals, couples, and potentially other entities as defined under the Act. The legislation is designed to determine the amount of child support that one parent should pay to the other for the care and maintenance of their children. The geographic reach of the Act is nationwide, applying to all states and territories of Australia. The Act does not specify exclusions or exemptions beyond those that may be detailed in subordinate instruments or regulations. The application of the Act can be extended or restricted through these subordinate instruments, which may provide additional rules or criteria for specific circumstances or categories of individuals. For the year starting in 2025, the annualised Male Total Average Weekly Earnings figure has been set at $89,523, which will be used in conjunction with the Costs of the Children Table to calculate child support obligations. This table adjusts the amount of child support based on the combined income of the parents and the number of children involved.
Key Provisions
The Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 sets out the framework for calculating child support payments in Australia. This includes establishing the Annualised Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) figure and the Costs of the Children Table, which are crucial for determining the amount of child support to be paid (sections 155(2)). For child support periods starting in 2025, the Annualised MTAWE figure is set at $89,523, and the Costs of the Children Table is adjusted accordingly. This table breaks down the cost of raising children based on the number of children and their ages, which is then used in calculating the actual child support payments.
The Act imposes specific obligations on parents or guardians who are responsible for providing child support. They must provide accurate and complete information about their income, financial resources, and the number and ages of their children to ensure that the child support payments are calculated correctly. This information must be updated regularly to reflect any changes in circumstances. Additionally, the Act requires that child support payments be made in a timely manner, as per the schedule determined by the assessment.
Failure to comply with the obligations outlined in the Act can lead to various consequences. Under the Act, non-compliance with child support obligations may result in enforcement actions, such as garnishment of wages, interception of tax refunds, or even criminal charges for serious breaches. The penalties for non-payment of child support can include fines and imprisonment. The exact penalties vary depending on the circumstances but can be severe, especially in cases of persistent non-compliance.