An Evaluation of the Failure of the 1991 Child Support Act

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the operation and apparent failings of the 1991 Child Support Act and evaluated the root of these failings. This chapter links back to the work done in previous chapters, reiterating how policy failure was foreseeable and foreseen, but ultimately avoidable. It discusses in turn what led to the creation of a flawed policy, and also what allowed it to pass through Parliament with ease. The chapter argues that formation of legislation is the bottleneck of policy success or failure. The chapter ends by establishing the criteria of ‘perfect legislation’, arguing that these are an appropriate framework to guide policy-makers, policy analysts, and academics through the complexities of policy-making, and avoid policy failure.