Gladwin and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the dispute between Gladwin and the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care arrangements for a child. The Registrar had made new percentage of care determinations, revoking existing ones, and Gladwin sought a review of this decision.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child that would justify the revocation of existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new ones. The Tribunal was required to assess the evidence presented regarding the actual care arrangements and determine if they constituted a significant and ongoing shift from the previously established pattern.

The Tribunal affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the evidence demonstrated a material change in the likely pattern of care. This conclusion was based on an assessment of the factual circumstances of the child's living arrangements and the practical realities of the care provided by each parent. The Tribunal applied the principles governing the assessment of percentage of care under the relevant child support legislation, which requires a consideration of the actual and likely future care arrangements.