Boatwright and Boatwright (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the applicants, Boatwright and Boatwright, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the administrative assessment of child support. The dispute centred on the Registrar's estimation of the first applicant's income for the purposes of calculating the adjusted taxable income and, consequently, the child support payable. The appeal was heard by Member S Letch in the [Name of Tribunal/Court].

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in estimating the first applicant's income. This involved determining whether the estimate was reasonable and properly based on the available information, and whether the subsequent calculation of adjusted taxable income and the child support assessment flowed logically and lawfully from that estimate.

Member Letch considered the principles governing the estimation of income by the Registrar under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*. The court found that the Registrar's estimate was not sufficiently supported by evidence and that insufficient regard had been had to the information provided by the first applicant. The court reasoned that an estimate must be based on the best available information and should not be arbitrary.

The court ordered that the decision under review be varied. The Registrar's estimate of the first applicant's income was set aside, and the matter was remitted to the Registrar for redetermination of the adjusted taxable income and the child support assessment in accordance with the court's findings.