Dustin and Tatro (Child support)

The case of *Dustin and Tatro* concerned a dispute over child support payments, brought before the court for review. The central issue was whether payments made by one parent to a third party, specifically for school fees, should be credited against their child support obligations. The court was required to determine the intention of both parents regarding these payments and whether they constituted a "prescribed payment" for school fees that ought to be credited under the relevant legislation.

The court's reasoning focused on the legislative framework governing child support and the specific circumstances of the payments made. It considered the intention of the parties at the time the payments were made and whether these payments were made in lieu of, or in addition to, the assessed child support. The court applied principles of statutory interpretation to ascertain whether the payments for school fees met the criteria for being credited against the child support assessment.

Ultimately, the court affirmed the decision under review, finding that the payments made for school fees were not to be credited in the circumstances of the case.