Clements and Vaughan (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the child support assessment for Clements and Vaughan. The dispute concerned the percentage of care attributed to each party for their child, with the applicant seeking a review of a decision made by the Registrar of the Child Support Agency. The core of the disagreement was whether there had been a change in the likely pattern of care for the child that would warrant a reassessment of the existing child support arrangements.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the Registrar's decision, which affirmed the existing percentage of care, was the correct or preferable one. Specifically, the AAT had to assess if the evidence presented demonstrated a material change in the likely future pattern of care for the child, which is a prerequisite for altering a child support assessment based on the percentage of care.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) concerning changes to the percentage of care. The Tribunal found that the evidence did not establish a significant or material change in the likely pattern of care. The existing arrangements, as determined by the Registrar, were therefore affirmed as the likely pattern of care would remain substantially the same. The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review.