Goddard and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal reviewed a decision of the Child Support Registrar to refuse an application for an extension of time to lodge an objection. The applicant, Goddard, sought to object to a child support assessment, but had failed to lodge the objection within the prescribed time limit.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to grant an extension of time. This involved considering whether there was a satisfactory explanation for the delay in lodging the objection and whether the proposed objection had sufficient merit to warrant an extension.

The Tribunal found that Goddard had not provided a satisfactory explanation for the significant delay in lodging the objection. Furthermore, the Tribunal concluded that the grounds of objection raised by Goddard lacked merit. Applying the principles that an extension of time should only be granted where there is a reasonable explanation for the delay and a meritorious objection, the Tribunal affirmed the Registrar's decision.