Ferguson and Little (Child support)

This matter concerned an application by the father, Ferguson, for review of an administrative assessment of child support payable to the mother, Little. The dispute centred on the father's adjusted taxable income for the relevant child support period, specifically how his income estimate should be reconciled with his actual income.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar of the Child Support Agency had erred in refusing to set aside and substitute the father's income estimate for the 2021-2022 financial year. This involved determining whether the father had provided sufficient particulars of his adjusted taxable income and whether the Registrar had properly considered the evidence presented by the father regarding his income.

Member Lambden considered the provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* and relevant case law concerning the reconciliation of income estimates. The Member noted that the Registrar's decision was based on the father's failure to provide a satisfactory method statement for his income estimate, which was a requirement under the legislation. The Member found that the father had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that his estimate was a reasonable reflection of his likely adjusted taxable income for the period, nor had he provided a satisfactory method statement explaining how that estimate was reached.

The application for review was dismissed, and the original administrative assessment was affirmed.