Ms Karen Kiernan:

I will answer the Senator's query as to whether it is financially beneficial for families to separate. In One Family we are extremely clear that there are significant costs, as I mentioned, when a family or parent separates. One is considering two dwellings, two family homes, ideally, where children can spend time with each parent, although this is generally not available. One is considering the costs and the legal and emotional supports required to go through a separation. There may be some very specific circumstances in which both parents are reliant on social welfare and perhaps have other places where they can live so that they are not looking for rent supplement or social housing and each qualifies for a full social welfare payment. I suggest that these cases are in the minority and that where people are reliant on accommodation being supplemented by the State, it will be extraordinarily difficult. We would be more than happy to chat on our helpline to the people to whom Senator Humphreys refers and help them think through the reality of what they propose. I would find it disappointing to think that any parent would be that cynical because that is not our experience. People experience huge levels of trauma when they separate. They do not do so lightly. In fact, they frequently need to live together for long periods because they cannot afford to separate, which puts huge pressure on their families and children.