DPB fine increase 'punishes the child'

Government plans to penalise solo mothers on benefits who don't name fathers an extra $6 per child a week were condemned as punishing the children at a parliamentary select committee yesterday.

Parents on the domestic purposes benefit are now penalised $22 a week for each child whose other parent they refuse to name, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Under the Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill introduced by Social Development Minister Steve Maharey last year that penalty will be increased to $28.

Earlier this month, National leader Don Brash also said his party would introduce stiffer penalties for women who did not name their child's father, but did not elaborate.

Child Poverty Action Group researcher Donna Wynd told the committee the group had "grave concerns" about the penalty increase.

"While the minister has stated that the penalty is not designed to bring hardship and poverty to children, it is difficult to imagine that the practical effect of the increased deductions will no do exactly that."

Anecdotal evidence suggested a number of deductions were unlawful and that the system did not work as a stick to get fathers to pay child support.The agency believed an entire review of the Child Support Act was required, Ms Wynd said.

Auckland Women's Centre spokeswoman Leone Morris said Government research had found DPB recipients and their children were living in poverty and the bill would worsen the situation.

It supported the Government's desire to get more parents paying child support payments, but said the move was punitive and also wanted the act reviewed.

Massey University researcher Gareth Rouch said the bill focused on engaging with mothers to name fathers so they would pay support.

He believed it should also provide assistance to enable fathers whose name were not recognised on birth certificates to assert paternity.

Many adolescents had fathered children while in short-term relationships, felt helpless about asserting their paternity and were resigned to staying out of their children's lives, he said.

Mr Rouch said research showed the first 20 months after conception were crucial in developing bonds between a father and his child.

Act Party deputy leader Muriel Newman said 30,000 children did not have their fathers recognised. Children had the right to know their fathers.