A parent paid $350,000 at the airport so they could go on holiday as record numbers are blocked from leaving Australia with outstanding child support debts.
Departure prohibition orders stopped 358 people going abroad in the first 10 months of this financial year, eclipsing the previous high of 333.
The policy is in place to force divorced parents to support their children before jetting off aboard.
A parent paid $350,000 at the airport as record numbers who have outstanding child support debts are being stopped from travelling abroad (stock image)
‘If a parent can afford to take an overseas holiday, the Turnbull government believes they can and should be made to pay what they owe,’ Human Services Minister Michael Keenan said on Sunday.
‘The welfare of their children should be their first priority, not getting a tan on a beach in Bali.’
One parent paid $350,000 in a lump sum at the airport while another was forced to pay $60,000 and one forked out $30,000.
‘What those examples demonstrate is that parents often have the means to pay, but are deliberately choosing to shirk their obligations,’ said Mr Keenan.
‘It’s fortunate, though, that the overwhelmingly majority of parents in the Child Support Scheme always do the right thing by paying in full and on time.’
In 2016-17, the Department facilitated the transfer of $3.5 billion to support about 1.2 million children.
Departure prohibition orders stopped 358 people from leaving Australia in the first 10 months of this financial year, eclipsing the previous high of 333 (stock image)
This year has also seen a record amount of money recovered from parents who wanted their travel bans lifted, with $10.4 million repaid in the past 10 months.
The previous record of $9.9 million was set last financial year.
The Government collects the money and it is then transferred to the parent who is entitled to receive the funds.