Bromfield and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered an application by Bromfield for an extension of time to object to a decision made by the Child Support Registrar. The Registrar had made a decision regarding child support payments, and Bromfield sought to challenge this decision but had failed to lodge the objection within the prescribed timeframe.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether to grant Bromfield an extension of time to lodge her objection. To determine this, the Tribunal was required to assess whether Bromfield had provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay in lodging her objection and whether her proposed objection had arguable merit.

The Tribunal reasoned that while there was a delay, Bromfield had provided a satisfactory explanation for this delay. Furthermore, the Tribunal found that her grounds for objection had arguable merit. In weighing all relevant factors, including the explanation for the delay and the arguable merit of the objection, the Tribunal concluded that it was in the interests of justice to grant the extension of time.

Consequently, the Tribunal set aside the Registrar's decision to refuse the extension of time and substituted its own decision, granting the extension.