I think my very favourite action taken against deadbeat dads is this - they get to the international airport with a planned trip to Bali with the latest squeeze.

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And what happens next? They find they have a departure prohibition order against them from either the Child Support Agency or the Australian Taxation Office. And what does that mean? They can't leave the country while they have outstanding child support owed to the mother of their children. In the latest figures available, nearly 1000 people were stopped at the airport. They owed an average of $33,000 each - but still had the spare dough for a lovely break from their responsibilities.

Deadbeat dads had more bad news this week. The government is cracking down on them and sending more financial support to the Child Support Agency. And in a moment of glorious bipartisanship, the federal government is taking advice from Amanda Vanstone, former minister in Coalition governments and a regular ACM columnist.

Now she and I agree on next to nothing. But a year or two ago, Vanstone wrote about deadbeat dads: "We should total up how much we all pay out because he's walked away and make it an accumulating debt for life, with interest. We shouldn't treat it like a debt for a car, or from a business deal, that you can escape by going bankrupt. Children aren't those objects. They are far, far more important than that."

This week, I called her for her response to the changes and she was kind enough to send me her thoughts.

"For far too long too many men have been getting away with not being responsible in their child support payments. Seriously, we need to support the women left holding the baby. It's a 24/7 responsibility for nearly two decades. He had the pleasure now he can pay the price.

"More bureaucrats and bureaucracy doesn't always do it but if any of........

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