Blackstone and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

Blackstone and the Child Support Registrar were the parties before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The dispute concerned a decision made by the Child Support Registrar regarding the percentage of care attributed to Blackstone for his child. Blackstone sought to have this decision reviewed and set aside.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar's decision to alter the percentage of care was correct, specifically in relation to the application of section 65DAA of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). This section governs the assessment of child support where there has been a change in the likely future pattern of care. The court had to determine if the Registrar had properly considered the evidence of a change in the likely pattern of care and whether the new percentage of care accurately reflected that change.

Her Honour Judge Cuthbert M found that the Registrar had erred in its assessment. The court reasoned that the evidence presented demonstrated a significant and likely ongoing change in the pattern of care for the child. Applying the principles of section 65DAA, the court concluded that the Registrar's original decision did not adequately account for this shift. Consequently, the court set aside the Registrar's decision and substituted its own determination of the percentage of care.