Continued the debate
Steggall argued that the bill represented a missed opportunity to reform a broken child support system that disproportionately harms single mothers and children. Steggall highlighted that billions of dollars in child support remain uncollected, while single parents face debts due to former partners' non-compliance with tax lodgement. Steggall cited the report Opening the black box of child support, which recommended transferring collection duties to the Australian Taxation Office and abolishing the maintenance income test. Steggall urged the establishment of a national royal commission to examine domestic violence and femicide, asserting that current piecemeal inquiries were insufficient.