Canyer and Croasdell (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the dispute between Canyer and Croasdell concerning the percentage of care arrangements for their child. The applicants sought to have existing percentage of care determinations revoked and new determinations made, alleging a change in the likely pattern of care.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether there had been a material change to the likely pattern of care for the child since the last percentage of care determination was made. This required the Tribunal to assess the evidence presented by both parties regarding the actual care arrangements and to determine if these arrangements met the threshold for a new determination under the relevant legislation.

The Tribunal found that the evidence demonstrated a significant and ongoing shift in the child's living arrangements, indicating a new likely pattern of care. Applying the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*, the Tribunal concluded that the existing determinations were no longer reflective of the reality of the child's care. Consequently, the Tribunal set aside the previous decisions and substituted them with new percentage of care determinations.