just wanted to add some stuff here about data matching. there are so many ways to get caught out. by doing a normal tax return, the partner would put down that he is partnered so that he gets the tax rebates for being partnered (medicare levy reduction etc) and that they have a dependant. it may take several years too get caught out, but it does come across eventually. now, if you take into account that, claming payments as a single person means parenting payment at up to 600 a fn, ftba 150 per fn and ftbb at 130 per fn (ball park figures), rent assistance up to around 130 a fn - if she is not entitled to these payments (she may be entitled to some ftb but i'm playing devils advocate here), you're looking at upwards of 1000 a fortnight she is getting that she may have to pay back. the debt will go against HER, the criminal conviction (if one is made) goes against HER. she will get caught eventually, and it will all come out.

right now, THEY are living it up on that money - if they seperate somewhere down the track, the debt doesn't get split. the criminal conviction doesn't get split. SHE has to cop to that for however long it takes to repay it all - and any criminal conviction doesn't go away - it will make her less employable in some fields of work if she decides to work when her child is older

i know how very hard it is to live on bugger all money. i've done it in the past (and i'm doing it again now) - i know how tempting it is to work out how to get more from the government to help out. this isn't the way to go about it though. this person KNOWS she is doing the wrong thing. She is bragging about it. She has no intention of coming clean.