Pushed to point of no return: [1 – All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 28 June 2003: 2.
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Abstract
The best-known CSA suicide victim was Canberra man Warren Gilbert. The 28-year-old with three young children was found dead in a car clutching a letter from the CSA. He was losing more than 80 per cent of his gross pay in tax and child support. The coroner indicated there was a clear link between the CSA and theman’s death.
The male suicide rate in a single year is now four times that of the total number killed in the Vietnam conflict. Fathers groups around the country claim at least three clients of the CSA commit suicide every day. [JACK] was almost one of them.
Full Text
JACK, a senior public servant, slashed his wrists after receiving 36 letters from the Child Support Agency in one day.
“Their system is so maladministered they can’t mail letters regularly,” he says.
“I am being pushed against the wall emotionally, financially and in every other way. The best analysis: you get stuck in a dark tunnel, you keep walking down thetunnel, there is no light at the end, so why keep walking?”
The male suicide rate in a single year is now four times that of the total number killed in the Vietnam conflict. Fathers groups around the country claim at least three clients of the CSA commit suicide every day. Jack was almost one of them.
Two years ago he says he told the CSA by phone he was being driven to the wall.
“I was losing control, I was thinking of chucking it all in and said I might as well go the whole hog,” he said. “I made it very clear to them that I was contemplating suicide.”
Jack was provided with no professional counselling or sympathy and to his knowledge the police were not informed.
He hands over 27 per cent of his pay in child support payments. He also has to support his second family, which includes two teenagers.
He says the CSA overcharges him by deeming his income to be more than it is and by constant miscalculations.
“You ring up the CSA and tell them your situation,” he says. “They don’t care. Their attitude is, pay up or die.
“I have stopped at least five guys from suiciding just talking to them over the phone, letting them know that they are not the only one.”
For many men “you come home, you’ve got the photos on the wall and the bills on the fridge and that is your life”.
The best-known CSA suicide victim was Canberra man Warren Gilbert. The 28-year-old with three young children was found dead in a car clutching a letter from the CSA. He was losing more than 80 per cent of his gross pay in tax and child support. The coroner indicated there was a clear link between the CSA and theman’s death.
ORIGINAL COPY:
CSA victims pushed to point of no return The Australian 28 June 2003
The Australian
28 June 2003, Page 2
CSA victims ‘pushed to point of no return’
By John Stapleton
Jack, a senior public servant, slashed his wrists after receiving 36
letters from the Child Support Agency in one day.
“Their system is so maladministered they can’t mail letters
regularly,” he says.
“I am being pushed against the wall emotionally, financially and in
every other way. The best analysis: you get stuck in a dark tunnel, you
keep walking down the tunnel, there is no light at the end, so why keep
walking?”
The male suicide rate in a single year is now four times that of the
total number killed in the Vietnam conflict. Fathers groups around the
country claim at least three clients of the CSA commit suicide every day. Jack
was almost one of them.
Two years ago he says he told the CSA by phone he was being driven to
the wall.
“I was losing control, I was thinking of chucking it all in and said I might as well go the whole hog,” he said. “I made it very clear to them that I was contemplating suicide.”
Jack was provided with no professional counselling or sympathy and to his knowledge the police were not informed.
He hands over 27 per cent of his pay in child support payments. He also has to support his second family, which includes two teenagers.
He says the CSA overcharges him by deeming his income to be more than it is and by constant miscalculations.
“You ring up the CSA and tell them your situation,” he says. “They don’t
care. Their attitude is, pay up or die.
“I have stopped at least five guys from suiciding just talking to them over the phone, letting them know that they are not the only one.”
For many men “you come home, you’ve got the photos on the wall and the bills on the fridge and that is your life”.
The best-known CSA suicide victim was Canberra man Warren Gilbert. The 28-year-old with three young children was found dead in a car clutching a letter from the CSA. He was losing more than 80 per cent of his gross
pay in tax and child support. The coroner indicated there was a clear link
between the CSA and the man’s death.
28 June 2003, Page 2
CSA victims ‘pushed to point of no return’
By John Stapleton
Jack, a senior public servant, slashed his wrists after receiving 36
letters from the Child Support Agency in one day.
“Their system is so maladministered they can’t mail letters
regularly,” he says.
“I am being pushed against the wall emotionally, financially and in
every other way. The best analysis: you get stuck in a dark tunnel, you
keep walking down the tunnel, there is no light at the end, so why keep
walking?”
The male suicide rate in a single year is now four times that of the
total number killed in the Vietnam conflict. Fathers groups around the
country claim at least three clients of the CSA commit suicide every day. Jack
was almost one of them.
Two years ago he says he told the CSA by phone he was being driven to
the wall.
“I was losing control, I was thinking of chucking it all in and said I might as well go the whole hog,” he said. “I made it very clear to them that I was contemplating suicide.”
Jack was provided with no professional counselling or sympathy and to his knowledge the police were not informed.
He hands over 27 per cent of his pay in child support payments. He also has to support his second family, which includes two teenagers.
He says the CSA overcharges him by deeming his income to be more than it is and by constant miscalculations.
“You ring up the CSA and tell them your situation,” he says. “They don’t
care. Their attitude is, pay up or die.
“I have stopped at least five guys from suiciding just talking to them over the phone, letting them know that they are not the only one.”
For many men “you come home, you’ve got the photos on the wall and the bills on the fridge and that is your life”.
The best-known CSA suicide victim was Canberra man Warren Gilbert. The 28-year-old with three young children was found dead in a car clutching a letter from the CSA. He was losing more than 80 per cent of his gross
pay in tax and child support. The coroner indicated there was a clear link
between the CSA and the man’s death.