Batty and Ingham (Child support)

The dispute in *Batty and Ingham* concerned the crediting of a payment made by the father, Mr. Ingham, towards his child support assessment. The mother, Ms. Batty, had sought review of a decision by the Registrar of the Child Support Agency. The matter came before the Child Support Special Referee, M Douglas M.

The central legal issue before the court was whether a payment made by the father for school fees constituted a "prescribed payment" for the purposes of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and, if so, whether it had been correctly credited against his child support liability.

The Special Referee considered the provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* and relevant regulations. The court found that the payment made by the father for school fees was indeed a prescribed payment that could be credited against his child support assessment. The Special Referee affirmed the decision of the Registrar, concluding that the payment had been correctly credited.