4Objects of Act

#### 4 Objects of Act (1) The principal object of this Act is to ensure that children receive a proper level of financial support from their parents. (2) Particular objects of this Act include ensuring: (a) that the level of financial support to be provided by parents for their children is determined according to their capacity to provide financial support and, in particular, that parents with a like capacity to provide financial support for their children should provide like amounts of financial support; and (b) that the level of financial support to be provided by parents for their children should be determined in accordance with the costs of the children; and (c) that persons who provide ongoing daily care for children should be able to have the level of financial support to be provided for the children readily determined without the need to resort to court proceedings; and (d) that children share in changes in the standard of living of both their parents, whether or not they are living with both or either of them; and (e) that Australia is in a position to give effect to its obligations under international agreements or arrangements relating to maintenance obligations arising from family relationship, parentage or marriage. (3) It is the intention of the Parliament that this Act should be construed, to the greatest extent consistent with the attainment of its objects: (a) to permit parents to make private arrangements for the financial support of their children; and (b) to limit interferences with the privacy of persons.