Part 6: Administration

Version 2.1, Last updated 10 October 2008 5:00pm

Introduction

CSA administers the Child Support legislation and is subject to the provisions of other legislation such as the Privacy Act and the Freedom of information Act.

In this part

The chapters in this part describe the various provisions that affect how CSA administers child support cases.

Chapter 6.1	Authorisation and delegation This chapter explains the legal basis for CSA to make decisions under Child Support legislation.
Chapter 6.2	Collecting information This chapter explains how CSA obtains information to administer the Child Support legislation. CSA can compel a person to provide information, to attend and answer questions and to produce documents. CSA can also gain access to employer records. However most information CSA uses is obtained from parents or third parties without compulsion.
Chapter 6.3	Privacy, secrecy and proof of identity This chapter describes CSA's responsibility to meet the secrecy provisions in the Registration and Collection Act and the Assessment Act, and the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988. It explains the proof of identity CSA will require from its customers and the circumstances when a customer representative can obtain or provide information on behalf of a CSA customer. It also explains the special measures that CSA uses to protect the personal information of certain high-risk customers.
Chapter 6.4	Subpoenas This chapter describes when CSA must provide information to a court in response to a subpoena.
Chapter 6.5	Forwarding documents This chapter describes when CSA will forward documents to a parent at the request of the other parent or a court.
Chapter 6.6	Freedom of information This chapter describes the kinds of documents held by CSA and the process for access to those documents, both on an informal basis and by a formal request for access under the Freedom of information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Chapter 6.7	Service of documents This chapter describes how CSA serves a document upon a person.
Chapter 6.8	Offences and prosecution This chapter describes the offence provisions contained in the Child Support legislation. It does not deal with offences under the Crimes Act 1914 and the Criminal Code (e.g. forgery).
Chapter 6.9	Complaints CSA has a genuine commitment to service. However, it also recognises that it makes mistakes that affect the standard of its decision-making and service provision. CSA welcomes complaints from its customers. It takes appropriate action to resolve complaints and learns from its mistakes.
Chapter 6.10	Family violence This chapter describes how CSA will manage child support cases where there is a risk of Family violence.
Chapter 6.11	Compensation and waiver This chapter describes the circumstances in which CSA can pay compensation to customers. It also explains the circumstances in which a debt owed to the Commonwealth can be waived.

Part 6: Administration

Introduction

In this part

Contents