Cahill and Sanders (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the applicant, Cahill, against a departure determination made by the Child Support Registrar concerning the child support payable by the respondent, Sanders. The Registrar had determined that Sanders' child support liability should be reduced based on his income and financial resources.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar's departure determination was justified under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). Specifically, the court had to consider whether the Registrar had correctly applied the relevant legislative provisions regarding the assessment of income and financial resources when making the determination to depart from the standard assessment.

The court reviewed the evidence and the Registrar's reasoning. It found that the Registrar had erred in its assessment of Sanders' income and financial resources, particularly in relation to certain undisclosed assets and income streams. The court concluded that the departure determination was not supported by the evidence and did not properly reflect Sanders' capacity to pay child support.

Consequently, the court set aside the departure determination made by the Child Support Registrar and substituted its own determination, which resulted in an increased child support liability for Sanders.