Follon and Wayman (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Follon, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the assessment of child support payable to the mother, Ms Wayman. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care of the parties' child, which would necessitate a reassessment of the child support percentage. The appeal was heard by the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine whether the Registrar’s decision, which affirmed the existing child support assessment, was correct. Specifically, the Court had to consider whether the evidence presented demonstrated a change in the likely pattern of care for the child that would justify altering the percentage of care attributed to each parent under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth).

The Court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that there was no material change to the likely pattern of care of the child. The evidence did not establish that the child's living arrangements had altered in a way that would warrant a departure from the existing assessment. Consequently, the Court concluded that the Registrar had correctly applied the relevant provisions of the Act in refusing to reassess the child support percentage.