CHILD SUPPORT REGISTRAR & DEANE

This matter concerned an application by the Child Support Registrar against Deane, heard by Judge Scarlett. The dispute centred on an outstanding child support debt owed by the Respondent to the Applicant.

The court was required to determine the quantum of the child support debt and the appropriate orders to ensure its payment. This included considering whether to impose security over the Respondent's real and personal property and to make orders regarding the lodgement of outstanding tax returns.

Judge Scarlett ordered the Respondent to pay the child support debt of $13,614.82 and $2,880.00 towards the Applicant's legal costs, totalling $16,494.82, within ninety days. The Respondent was also ordered to lodge outstanding personal income tax returns for the 2012 and 2013 financial years by 30 November 2013. To secure the total debt, the Respondent was restrained from dealing with her interest in specified real properties and all personal property without the Applicant's consent, and her interests in these assets were charged in favour of the Applicant. The court noted that these orders were in addition to ongoing child support liabilities and that default in payment or breach of property orders would render the total debt immediately due and payable, with the Applicant at liberty to enforce the debt under the Federal Circuit Court Rules.