Section 66C — Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

(1) The parents of a child have, subject to this Division, the primary duty to maintain the child.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the duty of a parent to maintain a child:

(a) is not of lower priority than the duty of the parent to maintain any other child or another person; and

(b) has priority over all commitments of the parent other than commitments necessary to enable the parent to support:

(i) himself or herself; or

(ii) any other child or another person that the parent has a duty to maintain; and

(c) is not affected by:

(i) the duty of any other person to maintain the child; or

(ii) any entitlement of the child or another person to an income tested pension, allowance or benefit.

Related sections

• s 65ZE — Extended geographical jurisdiction—category D
• s 66A — What this Division does
• s 66B — Objects
• s 66D — Principles—when step‑parents have a duty to maintain
• s 66E — Child maintenance order not to be made etc. if application for administrative assessment of child support could be made
• s 66F — Who may apply for a child maintenance order

Research how courts apply s 66C

BriefBridge searches Australian caselaw by meaning — every answer cited to the paragraph.