Devonport and Devonport (Child support)

The case of *Devonport and Devonport (Child support)* concerned an application by the liable parent, Mr. Devonport, seeking a departure determination from his child support assessment. Mr. Devonport contended that his circumstances had changed due to redundancy, which he argued should lead to a reassessment of his child support obligations. The matter came before J Thomson M.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether Mr. Devonport had established grounds for a departure determination under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). Specifically, the court had to consider whether the change in his financial circumstances, arising from redundancy, constituted a relevant ground for departing from the existing assessment, taking into account his income, property, and financial resources.

J Thomson M affirmed the decision under review, finding that no ground for a departure determination had been established. The reasoning focused on the specific requirements for a departure determination, implying that the circumstances of the redundancy, as presented, did not meet the threshold for altering the child support assessment. The court applied the principles governing departure determinations, which require a demonstrable and relevant change in circumstances that justifies an adjustment to the assessed amount.