Colbert and Colbert and Anor

In *Colbert and Colbert and Anor*, the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia considered an appeal by the father against a decision of a Registrar concerning child support. The dispute centred on the father's objection to a child support assessment made by the Registrar, which the father sought to have set aside.

The primary legal issue before the Full Court was whether the Registrar had erred in law or fact in refusing to set aside the child support assessment. Specifically, the Court had to determine if the Registrar's findings regarding the father's income and the child support payable were justified, and if the father had established grounds for setting aside the assessment under the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989* (Cth).

The Full Court dismissed the father's appeal, finding no error in the Registrar's decision. The Court applied the principles of statutory interpretation to the *Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989* (Cth) and reviewed the evidence presented to the Registrar. It was held that the Registrar had properly considered the available information and made a reasonable assessment based on the evidence before her. The Court concluded that the father had failed to demonstrate that the assessment was unjust or unreasonable, or that any other grounds for setting aside the assessment had been met. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, with no order as to costs.