Buckley and Symons (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the dispute between Buckley and Symons concerning the percentage of care arrangements for their child. The applicant, Buckley, sought to have the existing percentage of care determinations revoked and new determinations made, arguing that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the evidence presented established a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, and if so, whether the existing percentage of care determinations should be revoked and new ones made. The central legal issue was the application of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 in assessing whether a significant and ongoing change in care arrangements warranted a reassessment of the child support percentages.

Member M Sutherland affirmed the decision under review, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate a sufficient change to the likely pattern of care that would justify revoking the existing determinations. The Tribunal applied the principles governing changes to care arrangements under the relevant legislation, concluding that the threshold for making new determinations had not been met.